Two UGA basketball players transferring
(Please click here for Thursday’s spring football practice report.)
ATHENS — Georgia basketball players Demario Mayfield and Drazen Zlovaric are leaving the Bulldogs’ program.
Both have requested, and have been granted, releases from their scholarships, UGA coach Mark Fox announced Thursday night.
Both players, in written statements, said they intend to transfer to other schools in search of more playing time.
“I enjoyed my year here at Georgia under a great coaching staff, but after discussing the situation with my family, I wanted to seek a better opportunity for my career,” said Mayfield, a freshman guard from Franklin County.
Said Zlovaric, a sophomore forward from Serbia: “I would like to have stayed in school here, but in order to become the player I want to be, I need to seek a better chance for more playing time. I just have to do what’s best for my playing career.”
Mayfield played in 18 games this past season, averaging 6.5 minutes and 0.9 points per game. Zlovaric played in 43 games the past two seasons, averaging 6.3 minutes and 1.0 points.
“I want to wish Demario and Drazen the best as they continue their respective careers,” Fox said in a statement. “They are both outstanding young men, and I really appreciate their efforts during the past year.”
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65 comments Add your comment
Clint
March 25th, 2010
7:23 pm
good luck to both. Hopefully Fox can find some kids to take their place.
3DawgKnight
March 25th, 2010
7:23 pm
First? Not that I really care.
So did these two seek out the transfers or were there subtle hints that this might be in their best interest?
DAWG07
March 25th, 2010
7:25 pm
Wish both players the best.
double g
March 25th, 2010
7:32 pm
Wonder if this has anything to do with decision by Thompkins. These two players contributed a little, but apparently didn’t see much of a future going forward. Hmmmm……
Wonder if this has anything to do with recruiting. Tim, any thoughts?
BigDawg'09
March 25th, 2010
7:35 pm
Good luck guys wish u the best *looks around* Are they gone yet? SWEET!!, more scholarships to offer Fox’s recruits!!!!
chev22
March 25th, 2010
7:39 pm
Best of luck to Both. That does leave UGA with more money for scholarships for Fox’s upcoming recruits so thats a plus…
Thirty Points to your Twenty-Four Points
March 25th, 2010
7:55 pm
Am I living in the dark?? Has Thompkins
made his decision yet??
Dean
March 25th, 2010
7:57 pm
In Mayfield’s case it was strongly suggested it be in his best interest to transfer. Don’t know why you’re “looking around”, Mayfield was a huge spark going into the half against Florida. Hate it for him. Not sure that these two will be the only ones transferring.
jp
March 25th, 2010
8:11 pm
this means that we can probably sign 3 more players in this class and 4 to 5 more next year after Trey, Leslie, Barnes and Price all leave.
UGA is pursuing Dewayne Polee from California and supposedly a couple of JUCO’s who’d probably come in and push for immediate playing time.
This will not help or hurt UGA too much. It might mean that it takes a little longer for the new players too gel but we didn’t lose too much talent. Neither one of them was going to start anytime soon.
Halsey
March 25th, 2010
8:11 pm
Does it bother everyone else that these players, and even the coach, refer to basketball as their “career”. You probably won’t have a career playing basketball if you average 1 point a night at UGA. I guess maybe more playing time would be good if they plan to be coaches, but it sounds like they intend to have careers playing basketball…
VinceVanGo
March 25th, 2010
8:15 pm
This is puzzling! If those two can’t see themselves with enough playing time this next year when Fox plays at least 10 players and even more the year after when Thompkins/Leslie/Barnes & Price all go, then they must know something that we the fans don’t. Hopefully it means that a boatload of great recruits are heading Georgia’s way. We must also remember that both of these were Felton signees. Is the Fox “cleaning the hen(dog)house”?
RomeDawg
March 25th, 2010
8:18 pm
You hate to lose them because they were both good student athletes that made UGA proud! Good luck to both!
J. Harrick
March 25th, 2010
8:29 pm
got a spot for you guys if you want!
JD
March 25th, 2010
8:35 pm
How many quarters are in a 4 quarter game?
Hoops Rock
March 25th, 2010
8:38 pm
I believe that Mayfield’s decision has do with the fact that Gerald Robinson will be eligible to play after sitting out this year. That will seriously impact his time at guard.
UGA 82
March 25th, 2010
8:58 pm
Good Luck to both youngmen! They are both good student athletes and have represented the University well.
and not to be out-done...
March 25th, 2010
9:12 pm
how many points do u score on a 3-point shot?
stw
March 25th, 2010
9:18 pm
AND NOT TO BE OUTDONE: COGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE ONLY THIRD GRADER TO ALSO HAVE A DIVERS LICENSE..YOUR MOMMA IS PROUD
GT
March 25th, 2010
9:25 pm
are they moving to Shreveport ?
t.o
March 25th, 2010
9:30 pm
There’s a blog for 2 guys that rarely played for UGA transferring more than likely to D2 schools???? Who cares???
athdog
March 25th, 2010
9:46 pm
stw…check the spelling on your post, and then get back to us. This is not elementary school, dilweed.
The Sham
March 25th, 2010
9:53 pm
I heard… John Wall is transfering to UGA. He’s gong to sit out next year and take us to the promise land the year after!
stw
March 25th, 2010
9:55 pm
ATHDOG: SO I HIT THE WRONG KEY. WOULD LOVE TO BE PERFECT LIKE YOU..
Thriller Dome
March 25th, 2010
10:16 pm
Does anyone know what the price of gum in china is? Does anyone care?
metoo
March 25th, 2010
10:18 pm
Yeah, the offense is really going to suffer now!
BarkingBulldawg
March 25th, 2010
10:24 pm
This is GREAT news. More schollies for quality players. Let’s build this program, Coach!
We NEED Polee in the worst way.
BarkingBulldawg
March 25th, 2010
10:24 pm
and yeah, a JUCO or two sounds really good.
theight
March 25th, 2010
10:27 pm
I can understand Zlovaric but Mayfield should work harder at him game for more playing time. He is only a freshman. Fox should have red-shirted him this year. Transferring as a freshman doesn’t guarantee you more playing time unless you go to a much smaller school. mayfield has to realize that he would have a great chance at playing this year if work on his game hard during the off-season. His family should be encouraging him to work harder on his ball handling, shooting, and 3pt shooting during the off season regardless if he stays or go somewhere else.
Dean
March 25th, 2010
10:51 pm
It wasn’t a matter of hard work. When the coach tells you that you don’t fit his system, that is pretty much the handwriting on the wall.
LOWNDES COUNTY
March 25th, 2010
11:12 pm
I THINK THEY ARE LEAVING B/C GA HOED OUT AND CHANGED THEIR FLAG AFTER 01
HOW BOUT THEM DAWGS
Most of you are idiots
March 26th, 2010
12:01 am
Good luck to both these young men and hope their future works out for them. Their statements show more class than the averaqe idiot on here.
hey jd
March 26th, 2010
12:12 am
college basketball is played in halves big boy.
ButlerDawg
March 26th, 2010
12:45 am
This has JUCO signings all over it! This is exactly what Harrick had to do before decent recruits started taking notice. Good move by Fox in my opinion.
Meatlake
March 26th, 2010
2:14 am
Good luck gents and thanks for your efforts at UGA. We wish you the best in the future.
BuLLdawg
March 26th, 2010
5:44 am
That frees up 2 scholarships. The test on Mark Fox is can he fill them with far better recruits than those 2.
NCAA Tournament Action :
SEC 15-4
ACC 9-9
SEC Men 5-2
ACC Men 5-5
SEC Women 10-2
ACC Women 4-4
ACC has neither a winning record in NCAA Tourney Men
ACC has neither a winning record in NCAA Tourney Women
SEC has winning record in BOTH NCAA Tourney Men & Women.
SEC is kicking the butts of ACC in basketball, again.
Big East had 8 bids to the Men’s Tournament. Butler beat # 1 seed Syracuse last night. Big East have 1 left, tomorrow night West Virginia vs. SEC # 1 Kentucky. Big East also does not have a Winning Record in Men’s NCAA Tournament, just like the ACC. Neither the Big East nor the ACC are better than The SEC in Basketball. Big East is NOT the best basketball conference and NEITHER obviously is the ACC.
TheNumber34
March 26th, 2010
6:40 am
While I wish these young men well, this is exactly the type of move needed to continue building a good program. Many folks don’t realize that these scholarships are NOT four year entitlements. They are one year contracts, and if the player is not cutting it, contract over. Nick Saban openly does this with regularity in his football program. CMR even does it, though with less regularity than Saban.
Oh, no, here we go again...
March 26th, 2010
6:48 am
…a UGA basketball coach throwing players off the team – what is the difference between this and what the predecessor coach did on numerous occasions over the previous 5 – 6 years, for which he was lambasted over and over?
Kristin Rand
March 26th, 2010
7:13 am
congratulations! and all the best! wish you find your place in the game soon. march madness is also here http://trophysportsbook.com/march-madness-sports-facts-stats-betting/
Voice of Reason
March 26th, 2010
7:34 am
Some of you bees need to think about something – Paul Hesitt is STAYING!!!
Kasie
March 26th, 2010
8:24 am
I hate to see Demario leave UGA hoped he would have more playtime next year – but good luck to both men!!
flagboy?
March 26th, 2010
8:33 am
Good luck to both of them wherever they end up.
Diego
March 26th, 2010
8:35 am
Dean seems to be the only one here who really knows how these things work. Undoubtedly, Fox make it clear to these fellows in a politically correct fashion that they were never going to get much playing time and it might be in their best interests to transfer. That his how Div. 1 coaches clear space for scholarships for better players.
we're covered for the next few years
March 26th, 2010
8:36 am
as a dawg fan, i am so happy that paul hewitt is staying at tech. this guarantees that uga will have at least 1 victory in bball so long as paul is there. thanks buddy…hope you dont get carjacked leaving a practice session
hammerhead
March 26th, 2010
8:43 am
Hey Halsey – what do you consider something you put as many hours into as these kids put into becoming complete basketball players? Every kid that signs a D1 scholarship thinks of his chosen sport as a career. Reality will hit 99% of them fast enough; in the meantime, quit being a smart a$$.
STEINER
March 26th, 2010
8:47 am
GT:
No, they are going to the blue field at Boise State where Tech plays….Carjacket Uniniversity is your new name, you earning it daily…..
Talent evaluation key to Mark Fox’s future success at Georgia | AJC College Sports Recruiting
March 26th, 2010
9:12 am
[...] you missed it, guard Demario Mayfield and forward Drazen Zlovaric requested and on Thursday were granted releases from their UGA scholarships so that they may seek transfers to other school. How much of a choice they had in the decision is a [...]
kydawg
March 26th, 2010
9:16 am
Not sure about Thomkins and Leslie leaving after next year…remember the NBA may be locked out! I see them coming back if that happens.
lazydawg
March 26th, 2010
9:31 am
I would really like for the Dawgs to go after more JUCO players ,seems that they at least finish there two years that they have left.
freshd
March 26th, 2010
9:47 am
Good luck with bringing in some JUCO players from some shady college. I thought UGA learned their lesson with TONY COLE. I guess that love being the butt of jokes on ESPN. By the way Takais Brown came from a JUCO, how did that turn out.
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 26th, 2010
9:51 am
Word is they want to get an education while at school.
baddawg
March 26th, 2010
9:58 am
Yes, Dean does know more about the situation from an insiders point of view. These young men did NOT want to request releases but were basically told their scholarships would not be renewed. No reflection on their individual characters OR their playing ability. Fox wants his own team and he wants these two and some others gone. It was basically a resign-or-get-fired situation which is heartbreaking for those of us who know and love DM. He will land on his feet because he has a tremendous support base of family and community. Please stop the negative insinuations about the athletes. Think about your own kid having a scholarship jerked out from under him because he “didn’t fit the program”. You’d be mad as hell, too.
ugaaccountant
March 26th, 2010
10:05 am
well, crap. I really don’t respect coaches who run off players. I do feel that the NCAA should mandate that scholarships are for 4 years. It’s just not fair to have these kids in sports 20+ hours a week and not at least get them their education.
NewnanDawg
March 26th, 2010
10:24 am
I hope these kids do well wherever they go – the whole team really seemed to work hard and help Coach Fox get a great start on building the program. It’s a little bit similar to the football staff changes; they were great people, but sometimes the business side has to come in to play. If you want to increase the Ws, tough decisions have to be made. I hope it works out for both sides.
Go Dawgs!
AceDawg
March 26th, 2010
11:36 am
I had an impression that Mayfield might get to play more coming up, but maybe Gerald Robinson the red shirt is going to be real solid and claim all the extra guard play.
toph
March 26th, 2010
12:40 pm
I’m not sure I’ve ever been excited about players leaving a program, but this looks like it was for the best. UGA basketball is growing!
thatsAllweGot?
March 26th, 2010
1:53 pm
Somebody wake me when we make the NCAA tourney again…
baddawg
March 26th, 2010
1:54 pm
I guess, toph, that winning is most important to you and the negative affects on young men’s lives is of no importance….unless of course it’s you or your kid.
Good Riddance
March 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
Glad they are moving on.. Mayfield had talent, but was going to be a bench player. The other kid was basically 5 fouls. Hopefully Fox can bring in contributing talent!
A JOKE FOR YOU
March 26th, 2010
3:17 pm
UGA MENS BB PROGRAM….HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Dean
March 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
I do have a little bit of an inside glance angle here being close to the Mayfield family. It is a tough situation, and had it not been for me knowing one of these two would have never posted anything about this. It is a business and coaches do what they must do to win. Felton wanted the guards, Fox doesn’t. It’s simple, but it has affected two young men, one of which I do know, and I know him to be an exceptional young man. They mentioned careers and someone was observant enough to attack that statement. Let me remind you, that the basketball pays for their academic CAREERS as well. I hate to see Day Day go, I enjoyed going to the games to pull for him and his teammates. I was filling out my order form for season tickets, not so anymore. And as Diego alluded to in an earlier post, Day Day was man enough to fall on the sword so to speak.
scott
March 27th, 2010
10:59 am
I think that if uga made a commitment to these kids and they made a commitment to uga, then fox should honor it whether he wants them or not!
Orange is Ugly
March 27th, 2010
12:12 pm
Good bye and good grief to both. If those two can’t hack it at UGA, maybe Clayton State College in Morrow, GA can use both of them. Damn. The Yugo kid must not be able to play AT ALL if he can’t crack the Dawg lineup. As for the punk from Franklin County….you are not in high school any more! It may have taken way toooo long but the U. of GA has found a iron-willed head coach for basketball. I hope the traitor tubby smith loves his time over in awbum, owl la bamer.
Orange is Ugly
March 27th, 2010
12:19 pm
And you punks who are sending the good wishes to these two rejects, man, please. Get a life. Why support a puke who can’t hack it at the U.of GA? Maybe both will enroll at the nats and play for paul pukeit. “good luck and great fortune to both of you…..” You people make me sick. No wonder gayturds make fun of UGA fans. It’s the stupid UGA fans who post and can’t afford the tickets to the games that make our U. look stupid. If I had my way, you’d earn a skin from UGA in order to BE ALLOWED TO BUY TICKETS AND COME TO THE GAMES. LET THE ALUMS COME TO THE GAMES. THE REST OF YOU PUKES AND PUNKS STAY THE HECK HOME. I SAY LET THE ALUMS WHO LOVE THE SCHOOL BE THE ONES TO ATTEND EVENTS. SCREW THE REST OF THE DRUG STORE GEORGIA FANS. STAY HOME, IN YOUR TRAILERS, REST EZ ON YOUR BROKEN LAZY-FAT ARSE CHAIR, DRINK YOUR PABST BLUE RECTUM BEER AND ENJOY LIFE AS A DRUG STORE UGA FAN! WOOO HOOO! HERSCHEL WALKER! YEAH! You bunch of loose stupid puke so called “fans”. I bet the all of you voted for that muslim to be our president, too.
baddawg
March 27th, 2010
1:53 pm
Orange is Ugly: You need to attend anger management counseling. You have made two of the sickest posts I have read in a long time. You refer to the “punk” from Franklin County. You obviously do not know him. I am a college graduate who goes to the games, I live in Franklin County. I do not live in a trailer nor do I drink beer. Your stereotypification of anyone outside of your little world is very sad. All I can say for you is as a concerned Christian, I will pray for you and the sadness that appears to surround you. I mean that very sincerely because I am truly concerned.
Jimmy
March 29th, 2010
5:59 pm
Ok, it’s obvious that “Orange is Ugly” is not a true Georgia fan. It’s probably a Tech or Gator fan trying to make UGA fans look like the stereotypical rednecks other fan bases claim they are. It’s the oldest trick in the book-as far as blogs go.