BASKETBALL: ‘The Next Derrick Favors’ has UGA among his finalists
South Atlanta High’s Nick Jacobs, who gets comparisons with former teammate Derrick Favors, has UGA among his finalists.
Loading ...The 6-foot-9, 255-pound power forward has narrowed down to five schools: UGA, Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Cincinnati.
“I really like the coaches at Georgia and with Trey Thompkins leaving after next season, I will have the chance to contribute immediately,” Jacobs told the AJC. ”Most importantly, my cousin who played football at Georgia has told me a lot of good things about the school. He thinks I would really fit in well over there.”
Nick’s cousin is David Jacobs, who played defensive end for the Bulldogs and had his football career cut short in 2001 by a stroke.
Jacobs will visit all five schools within the next two months and sign in November. Here’s what Nick had to say about the other finalists:
Alabama: “I’m really close to the coaches, and they think I can play a lot as a freshman. I like how they run their offense through the big men.”
FSU: “I made an unofficial visit down there and really liked what I saw.”
Clemson: “When I took Miami off my list, I added Clemson. I’ve had a big change of heart about Clemson. I like their coaches. They feel like I can get a lot of touches in the post area and play as a freshman.”
Cincy: “They’ve been one of the favorite teams since I was little. I don’t know much about the current team. I’ve been to the campus for an AAU tournament and it looked like a great environment for basketball.”
South Atlanta PF Nick Jacobs has a family connection to UGA (Special)
Jacobs is considered one of the top five prospects in Georgia. He was the heir apparent to Favors as South Atlanta’s marquee player last season. Jacobs was a dominating presence in the paint, averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds while leading the Hornets to the state playoffs. Georgia Tech never offered Jacobs, and Jacobs said he never was interested in Georgia Tech.
You have to be good to be mentioned in the same conversations with Favors, who was picked No. 3 overall by the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Draft. South Atlanta coach Michael Reddick says Jacobs may be better than Favors in a couple of areas as a high school senior.
“Derrick was probably a little more agile and more athletic … but Nick is a bigger and stronger kid at the same age,” Reddick said. “[They have] two different styles of play. Then again, Nick plays a little more at center, while Derrick was a power forward for us in high school.”
New UGA coach Mark Fox has been on a roll with recruiting. Last May, he signed the AJC’s Mr. Basketball (Westlake swingman Marcus Thornton), beating out Kentucky, Memphis, Florida, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia Tech, among others.
Over the summer, Wilcox County QB Nick Marshall committed to Georgia on a football scholarship (to play DB) and will walk on the school’s basketball team. The biggest catch has been Greenville High’s Kentavious Caldwell, a 5-star recruit who committed to Georgia but revealed last week that he will also visit other schools, including Tennessee and Florida State. (Click here for the story)
RELATED: The Hot Sheet on Georgia top basketball prospects AFTER the summer (Click here)
RELATED: Will UGA superstar QB recruit Christian LeMay transfer? (Click here)
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40 comments Add your comment
Dawg Power
August 6th, 2010
4:57 am
Marky Mark Fox is dom-i-nating the state of Georgia in recruiting. Heck, at this pace, Josh Smith may even want to go back to college and play some with the great Bulldogs. NOOOOoo one is interested in Paul Hewitt because he is a goner.
Bulldogs Rule This State!!!!!
August 6th, 2010
6:18 am
2.3 and a 810 SAT……. GT is never an option
spin it
August 6th, 2010
7:14 am
GT cant sign all the top talent. But lets be serious here…this kid is not on Derrick Favors level. Derrick was the number one prospect on some some recruiting services and in the top three in virtually all of them. Derrick led his team to a state title and won the McDonalds All American MVP award…not to mention ACC rookie of the year and a his selection as the number 3 overall draft pick this year. Derrick was the best of the best of the best, and was pretty much pre destined to be a lottery pick. In comparison, this kid is not even in the top 100 nationally…but he will be a good pickup for UGA. Tech was never an option due to his grades…the kid wont say it but we cant take someone with a below 2.5 gpa unless they are a for sure one and done. Paul Hewitt’s situation should not hurt GT recruiting because many top basketball players want to play for a great program like GT…its in Atlanta and in the ACC(5 of the last 10 national titles)…this headline would make you think UGA is gonna land the best player in the nation but no they are leading for the services of a good player who has some upside. Just look at the schools that have offered the young man though…no Duke, no UNC, no Maryland, and no GT offer. The ACC powers are focusing on other players…but congrats dogs.
How many times...
August 6th, 2010
7:35 am
…are you and your cohorts going to write about this kid and the comparisons?
NoCoach Blewitt
August 6th, 2010
7:44 am
Why would he come to Tech after he watched me destroy the #1 recruit in the nation last year??? Is ANYONE excited for GT basketball next season?? Will ANYONE ever be excited about GT BB until I leave???
Thanks,
In over my Head 2010 Champion
boots
August 6th, 2010
8:18 am
Within a year, the Dawgs basketball program will be tops in the state and one of the favorites of the SEC title chase. Within two years, they will be a great-8 contender with the potential for more. Coach Fox is doing a great job.
hello
August 6th, 2010
8:26 am
Would not exactly say producing the number 3 choice in the draft is destroying the number one FRESHMAN in the nation’s draft chances. Look who was taken before him…John Wall(clearly the best freshman player in the country), and Evan Turner(a upper classman and the 2010 national player of the year). Spin it however you want but Derrick got taken # 3 over all even though GT’s guards could not get him the ball. This kid is good…but please dont compare him to an ultra elite player like Favors.
hello
August 6th, 2010
8:34 am
I meant to say freshman recruit*
Left to Right
August 6th, 2010
8:36 am
WATCH OUT FOR VOL BOOSTERS AGAIN SPREADING MONEY AROUND IN GEORGIA. MIKE HAMILTON IS DESPERATE TO SAVE HIS JOB.
Go CMF
August 6th, 2010
9:09 am
Keep on Recruitin
UGA Love Paul Hewitt
August 6th, 2010
9:09 am
Please keep Paul Hewitt at Tech. UGA fans love Coach Hewitt. Fox is starting to dominate the state. And to Jullian Royal, Paul Hewitt will be fired after next season….sad to report.
Da'reek
August 6th, 2010
9:53 am
Favors got drafted purely on potential. It wasn’t like he had some outstanding freshman season at Georgia Tech.
Laughing
August 6th, 2010
10:12 am
Hey Da’reek, I guess being named 2010 ACC freshman of the year is not an outstanding freshman season. Wait till UGA finishes better than last in the SEC and at least makes the NIT before you guys start praising CMF and the UGA BB program. Your football program should have already proven to you that great recruiting does not automatically result in winning championships!!
Nick Jacobs new home
August 6th, 2010
12:03 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjRxdrg9BtU
YoungDawg
August 6th, 2010
12:21 pm
UGA Basketball is like Florida was in football before Spurrier & Basketball in Donavan. With the right coach it’s a juggernaut waiting to happen! Mark Fox is that coach! The only jobs I think he’d even consider leaving for are NC or Kansas but in about 5 years when he has it going at UGA he might only consider a possible NBA gig. Jacobs & Notle are UGA locks with there already established UGA links.
slick
August 6th, 2010
12:52 pm
When did uga get a basketball team?
gtboy
August 6th, 2010
1:15 pm
nick jacobs is very talented…he grow up in a highly rough neigborhood..the kid is not dumb in class…
gtboy
August 6th, 2010
1:17 pm
IF YOU DIDNT NO DERRICK FAVORS WAS THE SAME WAY IN HIGH SCHOOL HE ALSO HAD A 2.4 ACTUALLY AN SUM HOW PULLED THROUGH HIS SENIOR….AN WE ALL NO NICK IS NOT ANOTHER DERRICK …BUT HE IS WAY FAR TO PHYSICAL….THAT A GROWN KID IN THE POST…THE KID IS PLAIN OUT UNSTOPPABLE DOWN LOW
Derrick
August 6th, 2010
1:53 pm
LMAO Julian Royal is going to Tech not UGA and Jacobs is not going to UGA either. How was Favors destroyed after he was a top 3 pick? Dumbest crap I have heard in a while congrats. UGA basketball is a joke and always will be. Dominating the state in recruiting. LMFAO
GT loves Mark Fox
August 6th, 2010
1:55 pm
Please keep Mark Fox forever! You go 14-17 and now you think he is one of the best coaches in the nation. Look for him to continue to that at UGA because your basketball program is a joke!
phoenix falcon
August 6th, 2010
2:58 pm
@gtboy
WHAT? We speak English on this forum, not Ebonics. Try again.
AJC is dumb
August 6th, 2010
3:23 pm
Did AJC really just say Nick Jacobs is the next Derrick Favors? They can’t be that dumb can they?Favors is 10x better than Jacobs.
Paul in RDU
August 6th, 2010
4:30 pm
Good luck to Nick Jacobs. I hope he ends up in a good situation for both b’ball and school.
He seems to be getting the “next Derrick Favors” label because he went to the same HS. I hate when kids get labelled “the next whoever” (Jordan, Dominique, Bird, etc, etc). It’s not fair to them.
There have been some great players come through Chapel Hill in the last 25 years but being labelled the next MJ before they stepped on campus gave them mighty big shoes to fill
john .w
August 6th, 2010
4:46 pm
i have respect for both young talented players……who cares what they call nick jacobs the next derrick favors….dnt nobody nick jacobs is a one man recking crew…nick jacobs is the next nick jacobs…an besides derrick never put up 20points an 23 rebound in a game like nick jacobs did in las vegas againts lbryan nash perry ellis, an issah austin…the kid is a monster hand down…..cut nick jacobs sum slack
Tech First
August 6th, 2010
4:55 pm
STOP COMPARING HIM TO FAVORS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE NUMBER #3 PICK IN THE DRAFT PLUS HE’S GOING TO GEORGIA SUCKS FOR HIM THE PRO COME TO TECH
Paul Hewitt
August 6th, 2010
4:58 pm
Tech First- please stop screaming. It’s not UGA’s fault that I’m just a glorified AAU coach.
TigerRagzzy
August 6th, 2010
5:08 pm
Sorry to you Georgia and Tide fans, but people in the know will tell you Clemson is leading for Jacobs and he is looking forward to being a terror like Trevor Booker was for the Tigers. Brad Brownell is going to take Clemson to the next level… Look out!
Tdawg
August 6th, 2010
5:12 pm
Having been born and raised in Georgia I wish Derrick Favors all the luck in the world except when he goes up against the hawlks. But in all honestly he has not shown me that much as of yet. He was picked solely on his potential and we all know about potential. As far as being freshman of the year in the ACC, no big deal there. Now if he had of averaged 22 pts and 12 rebounds a game then I would say that he deserved all the phraise in the world, but he fell well short of those stacts. His stats were average at best, and I’m pretty sure that the NBA talent is a little better than the ACC. In the end what getting at is that you can’t possibly compare the two, not yet anyway. You may very well be comparing Derrick to Nick one day who knows. I wish Derrick all the best in the NBA and I for one would take Nick coming to Georgia as a great catch. john .w said it all.
Tech Sucks
August 6th, 2010
5:45 pm
Mark Fox is freaking AWESOME.
GT man
August 6th, 2010
6:13 pm
Hewitt didnt want him because he would probably stay 4 years and dosent have tattoos all over his arms.
hello
August 6th, 2010
6:14 pm
john .w he had 21 and 18 against Maryland…who I guarantee is better than whatever high school team Nick Jacobs played against. Favor was also the MVP of the McDonalds All American Game…that means against the tip top competition in the nation, mostly 5 star prospects headed to top programs, he still stood out…he was the best player on the floor. Come on dude…Jacobs is good but he is not a one and done elite player like Favors…just a good 4 star player with plenty of upside. Look at his offers…UCLA, Arizona, and Clemson have not offered…I guarantee if one does he wont go to Athens but they shouldn’t…Nick is not the type of player those schools sign…he is a good fit at UGA…he will play for three years. Congrats…but seriously stop acting like you guys are recruiting like Duke or UNC.
Directions
August 6th, 2010
7:40 pm
YoungDawg: Thanks, you provided me with the biggest laugh of the day. Hope Fox does a good job at UGA, but he isn’t on the radar yet for the UNC or Kansas job if came open. Please, let him first produce a winning record and at least make one of the postseason tournament before putting him in the hall of fame.
GT man is stupid
August 6th, 2010
7:52 pm
Most college basketball players have tatoos not just Georgia Tech’s players. But I know you’re an idiot and didn’t know that.
Yound Dawg LMAO
August 6th, 2010
7:55 pm
So he goes 14-17 and now he is a great coach and would only leave for UNC or Kansas. HAHA
Also Jacobs and Nolte aren’t going to UGA!!!
Nick Jacobs: Clemson
Evan Nolte: Virginia
drew
August 6th, 2010
8:42 pm
see that problem these day….dnt look at no page on a player ,and his ranked…yea he a 4 star player…all that is bull…..ranking is nothing….he is ranked 103 in the nation…but yet this kids destroyed 3 top 30 bigs in the nation.. not one but twice this year…he straight embarresed them….you have to cut this kid sum slack..yall act like he is in the league …he still a little kid…that to much pressure to be put on baby
TigerFan
August 6th, 2010
10:23 pm
Clemson has absolutely offered and some have stated that he may wind up committing when he comes to their elite camp later in August.
Nick Jacobs and Michael Brogdon will be a helluva start for Brad Brownell at CU. Both are very long on potential and already posess skill and Brownell is one of the best developers of talent around.
That will bear itself out at the High Major level in the next couple of years.
I’m not absurdely proclaiming Clemson will overtake Duke or UNC and become the most dominating team in the ACC, but with hopeful commitments from Jacobs and Brogdon with what is already on campus combined with Brownell’s very high level of X’s and O’s and talent development there stands a very high chance he can build on what Purnell started.
Derrick
August 6th, 2010
11:31 pm
Who is putting the kid down Drew? He is a solid player but comparing him to Derrick Favors is a joke. Favors was ranked #1 in the RSCI and a top 3 NBA pick and Jacobs is a fringe top 100 player.
Michael Carvell
August 8th, 2010
12:00 pm
The comparisons to Derrick Favors are more timing (the next marquee player at South Atlanta HS) than anything else. However, for South Atlanta’s coach to say that Nick is better than Derrick in a couple of areas at the same time in their careers (entering senior year of HS), that’s quite the compliment. No, Nick won’t be a “one-and-done” but he has outstanding potential.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
August 9th, 2010
9:39 am
Hewitt is Fox’s best recruiting tool in Georgia. UGA will be a top 15 team and a NCAA final 16 team this coming season.
Derrick
August 9th, 2010
3:58 pm
No you wont. Hewitt is still a better recruiter than Fox dummy.