RJ Sunahara, Division II Player of the Year, commits to UGA

Former Nova Southeastern forward RJ Sunahara has committed to the Georgia Bulldogs, he announced on Thursday.

Sunahara, the Division II Player of the Year, chose to play for Mike White and the Bulldogs over Notre Dame and West Virginia.

Straight to work. Go Dawgs! 🐶 pic.twitter.com/Cu4oVDhvNW

— RJ Sunahara (@rsunahara23) May 11, 2023

Head coach Mike White and members of his staff shared their reactions on Twitter following Sunahara’s decision.

We got a proven winner! 🔔 🔔 🔔 #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/pQFMcVrCtG

— Mike White (@CoachWhiteUGA) May 11, 2023

✔️🔴⚫️ #GoDawgs

— Erik Pastrana (@ErikPastrana) May 11, 2023

HOW BOUT DEM DAWGS!!!! pic.twitter.com/5fSCcETsyo

— Coach CMannJR (@SirMann_) May 11, 2023

Sunahara, a graduate transfer who stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 210 pounds, averaged 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last year for the Nova Southeastern Sharks, who finished the season undefeated and won the school’s first national championship.

“I’m a tough guy and I don’t back down from anything. So, whatever challenges I face, I’m going to face them head-on and give it my all every time,” Sunahara told UGASports.com. “I think I’m a guy who can kind of do it all a little bit. I’m not going to wow you with any skill sets or anything, but I’ll play harder than you, I’ll out-rebound you, I’ll out-hustle you, everything. I take pride in that, and that’s what I think they saw in me.”

Sunahara will join incoming transfers Jalen DeLoach from VCU, R.J. Melendez from Illinois, Russel Tchewa from USF, and Noah Thomasson from Niagara on Georgia’s 2023-24 roster. The Bulldogs have also signed Silas Demary, Jr., Dylan James, Mari Jordan, and Blue Cain.

Georgia’s four signees have them ranked 15th in the 247Sports team rankings for the 2023 class.