Georgia freshman Asa Newell will enter the 2025 NBA draft, per his agents at Excel Sports Management. Asa’s father Justin Newell also confirmed the with the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday that Newell is turning pro after one college season.
The Georgia basketball freshman arrived from Montverde (Fla.) Academy as one of the highest-ranked recruits in program history and leaves with a legacy of leading the Bulldogs back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015.
Newell, the No. 21 prospect in ESPN’s NBA draft projections, was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.0 block in 29.0 minutes per game. The 6-foot-11, 220-pound Newell became the first freshman at Georgia to do that since Jumaine Jones in 1997-98, and had the highest scoring average at Georgia since Anthony Edwards 19.8 in 2019-2029. Newell said before the SEC Tournament: “I’ve always been consistent, I know my role, I know my game. That’s just what I do.”
Head coach Mike White said after the Bulldogs’ home finale: “Asa’s a great teammate. He possesses a high level of work ethic, consistency and humility. I hate to wear those words out, but it’s just the God’s honest truth. That’s just who he is. Every single day he’s the same kid. He chases every single rebound, sits in a stance, there’s no excuses.”
The NBA draft combine will be held May 11-18 in Chicago, and the draft will be June 25-26 in New York.
Editorial credit: University of College / Shutterstock.com
