Bulldogs sign consensus five-star Asa Newell

ATHENS — Asa Newell, who is rated as the nation’s No. 8 overall prospect in the 247Sports.com Class of 2024 composite rankings, has signed a letter-of-intent to play for the Georgia Bulldogs, head coach Mike White announced on Wednesday.

Newell, a 6-10, 215-pound power forward, is a consensus five-star recruit ranked as the No. 11 prospect by ESPN.com and On3.com, as well as No. 13 by 247Sports.com and No. 16 by rivals.com. ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and On3.com all list him as the No. 2 power forward in this year’s senior class.

Newell is the second-highest ESPN and third-highest 247Sports.com ranked recruit to sign with Georgia during the internet era. He trails only Anthony Edwards (No. 4 in 2019) on the ESPN.com ledger and only Edwards (No. 2) and Lou Williams (No.6 in 2005) in the 247Sports.com composite. Edwards went on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, while Williams elected to turn pro and has enjoyed a 17-year NBA career that includes three NBA Sixth Man of the Year awards.

Newell was a member of USA National Teams each of the past two summers, competing in the 2022 U17 and 2023 U19 World Cups. In 2022, he averaged 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds while helping the USA capture a Gold Medal in Malaga, Spain. Last summer, Newell contributed 7.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and a team-high 2.3 blocks per game as the USA finished fourth at the U19 tournament in Debrecen, Hungary.

Newell is in his second season at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., which finished 23-3 and finished No. 2 nationally in the SCNext Top 25 high school boys’ basketball rankings last season. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds for the Eagles as a junior.

Newell played his first two seasons at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., along with his brother Jaden, who is currently a redshirt freshmen forward for the Bulldogs. As a sophomore, Asa averaged 14.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Indians, who reached the first round of the Florida 5A state tournament. As a freshman, Newell contributed 4.0 points and 1.7 boards for a Choctawhatchee squad that finished 26-3 and was the runner-up in the Florida 5A state tourney.

Newell is the fifth top-100 prospect to sign with Georgia and White in the last two recruiting cycles. Current Bulldog freshmen with their highest recruiting rankings include Blue Cain (No. 53 by On3.com), Silas Demary Jr. (No. 56 by Rivals.com), Dylan James (No. 78 by 247Sports.com) and Mari Jordan (No. 87 by ESPN.com).