Welcome to Athens

As has been widely covered, two new Dawgs have joined the fold:  Will "Turtle" Jackson and E'Torrion Wilredge.  You should be excited about this.  Why?

Let's start with Turtle Jackson, who was once committed to the reigning national champion UConn Huskies.  Depending on where you look, he's a borderline Top 10 in-state talent (exactly the kind we've been begging Fox to keep in Georgia) and Top 150 national talent.  He's also saying things like this:

“A lot of other schools, when they recruit you, they tell you you’re the greatest player to ever come out, but you know that’s not true,” Jackson said. “Not everybody’s going to start in college, not everybody’s going to be the man. He was real with me and I love that.”

And this:

 “I had to sit back and tell myself, what would be best for my future,” Jackson said. “Going to Connecticut and sitting behind a guy for two years or going to UGA and working for a spot? I want to try to change the program. I want to see the respect for Georgia basketball rise, just like the football team and they want the same thing. I want to make a difference, do something different.”

Stop it, Turtle...you're getting me all riled up here.

So yeah, a kid who's good enough for UConn is staying home to try to change the culture of UGA basketball.  Turtle, glad you're coming to staying in Athens.

Then there's E'Torrion Wilredge, once a consensus Top 100 player who was injured and became something of a sleeper.  This guy fills the major need for the Dawgs next year, which is SF.  In fact, if he decided he wanted to graduate and play after Christmas, they could use him right now (no, this is not happening).  His signing will also soften the blow if Tevin Mack decides to go elsewhere.

Mack, along with PF Derek Ogbeide, are set to make their choices literally any moment now.  VCU and South Carolina are thought to be the leaders for Mack, whereas Ogbeide may very well end up in Athens.

Regardless of what happens, Jackson and Wilredge form the foundation of what can be a very, very good class for Fox.  He could easily turn this into a Top 25 class, which is exactly what the doctor ordered for Georgia basketball (especially if you-know-who were to shock the world and pick UGA).

So leave whatever the season may hold for tomorrow.  Today, let's be excited about some new Dawgs, and hopeful that Fox is well on his way to righting this ship.

Update:

 “One great thing about Turtle is he’s very driven to get better,” Fox said. “Most of the conversations with him were not so much about the recruitment as they were about, how can I get better? His first question would always be, how do you think I played? How can I get better? I love that approach that he has to the game. Very humble kid.”

I need a cold shower.

h/t everyone in the world