BASKETBALL: One of nation’s top shooting guards COMMITS to UGA
Greenville High’s Kentavious Caldwell, who is considered one of the nation’s top 15 basketball prospects by multiple recruiting services, has committed to Georgia.
The 6-foot-6, 185-pound shooting guard picked the Bulldogs over Tennessee and Florida State, while also considering Florida and Alabama. Last year as a junior, Caldwell averaged 29.7 points for the Greenville Patriots, which play in Georgia’s smallest division (Class A).
“When I woke up on Saturday morning, it just felt like the right thing to do,” Caldwell told the AJC. “Georgia is a great school for academics and athletics. It felt like the right moment to commit, so I called Georgia and told them that I was coming.”
“It took awhile to reach Coach [Mark Fox] because I think he was traveling. He was really excited about my decision. I’m glad to get it out of the way because I didn’t want to feel all the recruiting pressure during my senior year of high school.”
Greenville High basketball coach Richard Carter ranks Caldwell as the “probably the best” he’s ever had in 40 years of coaching high school basketball at several schools.
“I put him at the top because of his ability to shoot the basketball and defend,” Carter said. “It’s kind of like one of the coaches from Kansas told me — the difference between Kentavious and other two-guards is that [Caldwell] can come off screens and shoot, and Kenatavious can put it on the foor and take it to the basket. It’s not like he just sits out there on the wing and fires away. He can do it all when it comes to creating unique ways to score.”
Carter said that Caldwell’s friendship with two future UGA football players likely played a major factor into his college decision. Caldwell played football and basketball at Greenville last year with offensive lineman Kenarious Gates, who switched from Kentucky to Georgia after a last-minute football offer from the Bulldogs. Caldwell plays on the same AAU team with Wilcox County’s Nick Marshall, who has committed to Georgia on a football scholarship and will walk on the school’s basketball team.
“I think it really helped make the decision easier that two of his good friends are going there,” Carter said. “Anybody wants to be where their friends are. Believe it or not, that’s a very powerful [connection].”
While at Alabama’s Valley High, Carter’s basketball pupils included Stanley Jackson (played for NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and now works in team’s front office), Marcus Pollard (NFL Pro Bowl tight end who played 15 seasons, including 2009 with the Atlanta Falcons) and John Copeland (member of Alabama’s 1992 national championship football team, No. 5 overall pick of 1993 NFL Draft).
“Kentavious is probably the best I’ve ever coached, and I’ve coached some really great ones,” Carter said.
Now it’s YOUR turn. What are you THOUGHTS on UGA’s Mark Fox landing Kentavious Caldwell? Please post below.
Related: Take a look at an early UGA football commitment, North Paulding WR Chris Conley. He’s one of the candidates for the AJC’s Super 11 (click here)
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183 comments Add your comment
wiley
July 18th, 2010
10:24 pm
Tech has accomplished more in basketball this decade under this “terrible” coach than UGA has accomplished in the whole history of their basketball program…let that sink in “UGA owns GTU” you need a little history lesson.
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
10:25 pm
We OWN gtu. We OWN this state!!!
We’re just better than you.
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
10:26 pm
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
We own gtu.
The end.
We’re simply better than you.
mdawg
July 18th, 2010
10:31 pm
hey wiley. how many ncaa tourny wins does tech have this decade and then tell us how many UGA has..
go dawgs and kill the jackets
mdawg
July 18th, 2010
10:34 pm
really wiley??? so you think that because you get the 5star recruit makes you a better program?
funny because once you get the 5 star recruit, he does NOT get coached… everyone knows that paul hewitt is a bad floor coach
wiley
July 18th, 2010
10:35 pm
Right ok. At least get the name of the school right…The Georgia Institute of Technology…the #7 ranked public university in the nation…UGA # 20…both schools have good programs…no one really owns anyone. GT has a better all around program in several sports…such as Basketball(look at the history of our program vs yours) and Baseball(sure UGA has one NC but they suck a lot of years while GT has been consistently good year in and year out since the mid 1980s). GT has a football MNC since your last one and has 4 to your 1(or 2 depending on what source) while GT has also made appearances in the men’s basketball championship game and the men’s baseball championship game all since 1990. Its honestly amazing how a school with 13000 undergrads consistently fields competitive teams in the highest level of college athletics…it makes Tech Alums such as I myself very proud. Show some class both programs are good…I dont let my yellow colored glasses make me ignore history and facts.
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
10:36 pm
Let me show you how UGA ranks against gtu…
1. UGA
2. gtu
We’re simply better than you. At everything.
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
10:37 pm
Enjoy second place gtu! That’s as high as you’ll ever get!
We’re simply better than you. At everything.
wiley
July 18th, 2010
10:38 pm
6 for GT I believe…UGA 0. Whats your point? The NCAA vacated your one NCAA tourney win this decade. It just shows how much of a joke Paul Hewitt is…we should have at least 10.
wiley
July 18th, 2010
10:42 pm
GT should make the Tourney every single year. It should not be an accomplishment to make the NCAA tourney…this is why I want Hewitt gone…because he celebrates an appearance like you guys are celebrating last years losing season(14-17). I complimented the commitment but I cant let people misconstrue facts. I hate ignorance and I will correct those who have a tendency to ignore the real history of the sports programs of both schools. I tried to show class by complimenting the commitment but the UGA fans did nothing but trash my alma mater. I will only give respect if its given so you idiots can shove it. I respect any UGA fan who shows me respect…until then I will continue to berate you with the ugly truth of UGA basketball.
mdawg
July 18th, 2010
10:44 pm
funny because the ncaa vacated none of our wins, rather in the regular season or in the tourny
btw how does it feel when tech had to vacate football wins?
that goes both ways
and i will continue to pray that wiley and all tech fans get cancer
to hell with tech and to hell with the acc… i pray that you all get cancer
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
10:44 pm
Here’s something neat…
We’re simply better than you. At everything.
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
10:46 pm
My favorite time of year is when we’re better than gtu… and that’s year round. Sweet.
We’re simply better than you. At everything.
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
10:49 pm
UGA>gtu
We’re simply better than you. At everything.
wiley
July 18th, 2010
10:49 pm
McDawg…The NCAA vacated those wins. Check your fact book because its wrong. You really wish someone gets cancer? Real classy…I donated over 1000 dollars to cancer research this year and I am still in college living off a part time job until I graduate. It takes a small man to talk like you are talking over this computer. I would love to get my hands on you in real life and beat the F$#k out of you for that comment. Im sure real UGA alumni would too. Your a piece of trash and I would love to teach you a lesson. Unfortunately this is a blog and you wont show your real face or name. I will…my real name is Wiley. I lost my grand mother to cancer last year. If I got a hold of you I dont think anyone would be able stop me and I mean it.
mdawg
July 18th, 2010
10:53 pm
hey wiley, go cry yourself to sleep, im no christian and my hatred toward all tech fans is pure… i want them all dead..
and georgias probation meant we lost recruits and we self imposed a ban on the ncaa tourny…. there was no wins vacated……. unlike tech did have to vacate wins in football about 12 years ago
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
10:53 pm
Always better… always.
We’re simply better than you. At everything.
jdog
July 18th, 2010
10:54 pm
Good luck to Kentavious Caldwell in helping build a new power in the SEC. I never thought I’d see the day I’d be excited about UGA basketball, but here we are.
wiley, what are you doing? Your a tech fan, this is a UGA article, quit being an arse.
mdawg
July 18th, 2010
10:54 pm
go ahead teach me a lesson…… i pray that a nuke bomb drops on tech….. my hatred is pure and i want it that way
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
10:58 pm
The view from the top is great. gtu will never see it.
We’re simply better than you. At everything.
ryan
July 18th, 2010
11:00 pm
Ok Wiley i am UGA fan I going show some class and give credit GT yes GT was real good under Bobby Cremens and went to the Final Four several times but i wish people on here would stop disrespecting UGA basketball program that has done some amazing things to.
wiley
July 18th, 2010
11:01 pm
You know what jdog…your right. Its just a blog. Congrats to UGA…I have class and show respect to people. I just presented my facts…need to remember that half these posters are trolls. To any real UGA alumni…congrats on the pickup. I hope UGA vs GT remains a great rivalry in all sports….peace.
UGA OWNS GTU
July 18th, 2010
11:03 pm
Here’s a free lesson…
1. UGA
2. gtu
We’re simply better than you. At everything.
mdawg
July 18th, 2010
11:04 pm
peace is for wimps…
Paul in RDU
July 18th, 2010
11:22 pm
HugoStiglitz – I Don’t know why UK didn’t recruit Caldwell, but Duke and UNC each have top notch SG’s entering their programs in 2011 – Michael Gbinije and PJ Hairston, respectively. Duke needs to recruit a PG for 2011 as the one coming in this year is going to be a one and done. Ole Roy has a hot shot PG coming in this year as well but he’ll be there for a few years.
Paul in RDU
July 18th, 2010
11:46 pm
mdawg – Go to your 2009-2010 UGA basketball media guide. I assume you get one along with the rest of the large donors. Open it to page 152 and read the section on UGA in the NCAA’s. UGA’s appearance in the 2002 NCAA tourney, including the win over Murray State, was vacated.
1980 was so long ago
July 19th, 2010
12:07 am
1980 was Sooo long ago
With all the uga blathering, it is amazing that they still lay their laurels on a rusting trophy, achieved by beating a ND team that couldn’t outscore the 1-9-1 Yellowjackets that same year. In today’s format, that performance against Tech would have sent them to a Shreveport bowl.
Why don’t you all come down to North Avenue and see what a shiny, newer trophy looks like.
Not a final four appearance since the mid 80’s as well.
So impressive.
HugoStiglitz
July 19th, 2010
12:08 am
Yeah Paul, you are probably right. I thought about that a little bit after I posted that. It looks like Duke is going to get Austin Rivers also so there guards are already strong. Kentucky has two 5 star guards coming in this year, plus another 5 star guard already committed for next year and who know who else they might get. The top teams seem to have there pick of 5 star players whereas teams like GT and UGA feel lucky when they get one.
The Sham
July 19th, 2010
12:35 am
@WILEY – nice effort to give back handed compliments. It’s just that we are a bit sensitive about our lack of round ball success. The last 2 productive efforts left us feeling used (Tubby) and abused (Harrick). Jirsa and Felton were decent x’s and o’s guys who may be better suited as assistants, but in any case they just couldn’t recruit (or at least keep them after getting them on campus).
Now that Fox showed he can coach up the left overs and re-stock the pantry, the Dawg Nation has every reason to be excited. I’m sorry (we’ll not actually, but I’m trying to be “classy” here), your coach is underachieving but that is called life. It is full of ups and downs and we just happen to be excited by our recent up-tick. We are filled with hope and optimism and we really don’t need your self-loathing to bring us down. There is a Techie blog for that kind of venting and if you can’t find your way to it, then you are asking for the abuse you are getting by “extremists” like Mdawg. While I agree his death wishes are not cool on so many levels, you have to take it for what they are – words on a screen with no accountability. I’d suggest you focus your efforts on getting CPH fired from his overpaid and under-performing position… on second thought, stay here and vent bc we like him having that job!
For you and all the other wishful pessimists, UF basketball wasn’t nationally relevant until Billy D showed up and everyone said it was to be short lived… He wouldn’t stick around… That’s a football school… sound familiar? The beauty of a school like ours is that we have a place where kids love to come and the the non-alumni public can root for because of the beauty of the institution not just to get a fast track to the NBA (which is all GT can offer). BTW – how has that worked for you?
I leave you with this final question: FOR ALL YOUR STORIED BASKETBALL HISTORY AND SUCCESS, WHO DO YOU THINK IS CLOSER TO A FINAL FOUR AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP? It is the answer to that question that has us all fired up. Like or not, that is reality and you can find that in the future editions of the history books. Those are all that I really care about anyways!
GO DAWGS!
The Sham
July 19th, 2010
12:39 am
@ the Techies: Your desperateness and nervousness is showing through. I think the DAWGS smell fear……… GATA SIC’EM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BigCaliDawg
July 19th, 2010
12:51 am
It is unfortunate that this blog has not been moderated. Amazing what a racist can do behind a keyboard. Shame.
At any rate. Recruiting IS beginning to snowball and Coach Fox is getting the same kind of feedback that CMR gets. I see us playing over 500 this year. Maybe NCAA….don’t wanna get ahead of myself, or jinx it.
I wish UGA – GT could be more like UGA – AUB…..at least the rivals behave as if they have home trainin’.
theight
July 19th, 2010
3:48 am
who ever that was that said this guy plays in a weak league must forgot that Dwight Howard and Randolph Morris played in this same league. Nick Marshall the current incoming freshman with him last year also played in single A. Remember Tony Hollings that went to Ga Tech, out of twiggs county high, he also played in the same division. Bay Bay played in region AA but the competition was about the same. I really can keep going with players, I’m just making a point that the size of the schools are the only difference. Also in basketball, teams usually schedule opponents in all classes.
Steve
July 19th, 2010
3:54 am
Where did Poad and Turnup go?
I find it funny they were ripping on the GTU comment because they thought the poster was trying to call it Georgia Tech University, and they failed to realize it was a rip on one of their prestigious scholar (LMAO) athletes.
Oh, how that one still cracks me up. It still takes second to the refs shorting poor Reggie a down. Of course that one just kept getting better as the weeks went on with Reggie continually stating it should have only been third down. Sigh. The sad thing is .. Reggie probably still believes it was only 3rd down, despite probably watching the game film dozens of times. 1, 2, uhh two, 3, 4. Yeah, that’s how it works Reggie baby.
brokebackvol
July 19th, 2010
7:02 am
Congrats to Coach Fox, maybe UGAG will start making noise in the SEC – even though I pull only for the VOLS in SEC play, I pull for all the conference teams come March Madness!
suwaneedawg
July 19th, 2010
8:08 am
Steve, to answer your question, somebody earlier said POAD gets hot cocoa at 9:30 and tucked in by his momma at 10:00. Could explain why he was not on after 9:30. Preety close with his mom I guess. I am sure he will be back today with his quick wit and no facts.
HMMmm
July 19th, 2010
8:30 am
I smell a significant overstatement!
Pope UGA XXIII
July 19th, 2010
8:38 am
This youngster is quite a pick-up for UGA. Last year, I wrote
that with some more depth, Fox will be a real problem for the
SEC rivals. That will happen.
Dawgrulz
July 19th, 2010
9:03 am
Its funny when when UGA signed MR. Basketball earlier this year everyone said that is nothing he wasn’t a 5 star recruit. UGA this year signed 2010 Mr. basketball, now committed 2011 #1 ranked player in state. BTW, Dwight Howard also played for a Single A school. Also, UGA has committed for Football and Basketball combo one of the top players in state. UGA basketball has a lot of positive things to look forward to unlike the underachieving BB program in Atlanta.
Paul in RDU
July 19th, 2010
9:04 am
theight – The comments by other posters about Caldwell playing in a weak league are meaningless. Much of the evaluation of HS b’ball players happens in AAU ball, camps and summer leagues – nothing to do with which level of HS ball you play in.
BigGAdawg
July 19th, 2010
9:06 am
YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Hoop-Dawgs are going to be fun to watch in the next year or so. Gonna just keep getting better and better. The more success Mark Fox has the more of these guys are going to want to play for him and so on and so on.
Go Dawgs! WOOF!!!
schmeckdawg
July 19th, 2010
9:09 am
With the recruiting that Fox is doing, it looks like he is putting together a “Dream Team” more so that CMR!
Noneya
July 19th, 2010
9:19 am
Not a UGA fan but it looks like they found a winner with this one. NBA range and can put the ball on the floor. He can put a little more weight (muscle) on that frame and still retain his quickness. Good pick up.
Noneya
July 19th, 2010
9:21 am
Exactly Paul in RDU. Anyone who really follows basketball knows this. AAU is where you make your name because you play against far greater talent in AAU. Not just from the state but the country. Where do you think David Boyd goes to find his players? HAHAHA
We_Run_This_Country
July 19th, 2010
9:37 am
Wish we could have recruited him….but he didn’t have the grades to get into GT. Oh well, at least he can fall back on a SEC school.
coachx
July 19th, 2010
9:41 am
Exactly what the Dawgs need. A long wing who can shoot from range.
UGA OWNS GTU
July 19th, 2010
9:57 am
Yep, still better than gtu.
We’re simply better than you. At everything.
Ron lord
July 19th, 2010
10:01 am
i usually do not comment n these articles but all i want to say is i have never been to a GT sight, in fact don’t know if they have one. Why are so many GT fans on our blog? Just sayen, ya know.
We_Run_This_Country
July 19th, 2010
10:05 am
Ron, thanks for representing the “Dawg Nation” well.
How2fish
July 19th, 2010
10:06 am
Congrats to the young man and welcome to the Bull Dog Nation, best of luck on the field and in the classroom..also Congrats to Coach Fox and the coaching staff.
UGA OWNS GTU
July 19th, 2010
10:08 am
Always have, always will.
We’re simply better than you. At everything.