UGA Basketball: Tom Crean is Turning Heating Up On Recruiting Trail

The Georgia Bulldogs are coming off their first season under Tom Crean, an 11-21 season wasn't so great. Still, Georgia was able to ship the standout big man, Nicolas Claxton to the NBA, add the #1 overall high school prospect, and sign a Top-10 nationally ranked recruiting class.

Clearly, the Georgia basketball team is headed in the right direction.

After listening to Tom Crean speak less than a month ago, it's clear that he's trying to get these talented recruits to understand the resources and the opportunities that the University of Georgia can offer.

He showed that this pitch can work by signing Anthony Edwards, Christian Brown, and Jaykwon Walton, who are all three in Georgia's "All-Time" list from 247sports.

But, Crean cannot afford to stop there. He has to continue to build if he wants to establish Georgia as a premier basketball team.

Through recent updates of recruiting, it looks like Crean plans on building onto the stellar class that he signed in 2019.

J.T. Thor, 4-Star Power Forward

I can't think of a better last name for a post player.

J.T. Thor recently moved to Norcross, GA this year, where he will play ball at Norcross High School. Thor stands at 6'8 190 lbs. and rates as the 48th best player in the class of 2020. He'll need to build onto his size, but that shouldn't be a problem for him.

He's got big man skills with a combination of ball-handling, perimeter shooting, and finishing ability, making him a threat on the offensive side of the ball. Thor recently included Georgia in his Top 5, and received an in-home visit from the staff a couple of days ago.

Crean and co. will place the full-court pressure to keep the newly Georgian post player in the state.

Michael Foster, 5-Star Power Forward

With the Georgia football team scoping out talent across the country, there's no reason Georgia basketball can't do the same.

Michael Foster is ranked as the 6th overall prospect for the class of 2021, listed by 247sports. The 6'9 220 lbs. post is a force down low on both sides of the ball. He's got the grit and determination to be an elite power forward and would mean even more for Georgia to snag him out of Phoenix, Arizona.

Foster will be in town this weekend for a visit for the Georgia vs. Notre Dame football game.

5-star 2021 power forward Michael Foster has an official visit set for #UGA the weekend of Sept 21st. @RadiNabulsi https://t.co/TSEGs0ahXt
— Dan McDonald (@CoachD_Mac) September 4, 2019

Jabari Smith, 5-Star Power Forward

Could the Dawgs go 2-for-2 in going after 5-star big men for the class of 2021?

It's definitely not out of line, especially considering that Georgia's system usually includes two power forwards instead of a traditional center. If Georgia can add Michael Foster, there's no reason why can't they pair him with a guy like Jabari Smith. Another in-state talent, Smith is listed at 6'9 180 lbs. and is ranked as the 7th overall prospect in the class.

Smith will be in town with Foster on this weekend, and there's a chance that a duo could spark on that night in Sanford Stadium. Or at least that's how I draw it up.

Georgia will host five-star junior Jabari Smith for an unofficial visit on September 21st, a source told @Stockrisers. The team’s football program plays Notre Dame on prime time.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) September 11, 2019

It's evident that Tom Crean is changing the game here in Athens, and Georgia is not going to be "just a football school" for much longer.

With Anthony Edwards set to have a standout year for Georgia, and the possibility still remaining of him being the 1st overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, Crean will have a great pitch to recruits headed forward.

Georgia truly possesses all of the resources it takes to be a successful basketball player, as would Duke, North Carolina, and Kentucky. While UGA is nowhere near that level of program, there's no reason that recruits should have to leave the state in order to develop their skills for the NBA.

Now, all it takes is Tom Crean and the basketball staff to execute on the recruiting scene and bring in more top tier talent.

Add us as a preferred source on Google