Courtesy: UGA Sports Communications
Release: 10/13/2006
2008-09 Season • Team co-captain. • Junior-year progress was slowed by a sprained ankle he suffered in Georgia’s exhibition game vs. Albany State. • Still managed the moments of promise that his ‘08 season suggested might happen more frequently. • Second on the team in field-goal percentage (48.3%) and blocked shots (26). • Had first career double-double 12/31 vs. Kennesaw State. • Only other double-figure scoring came in a 12-point effort vs. Santa Clara. Four of those points came in the final 3:00. • Season high of 33 minutes came in home victory over Florida, against which he contributed nine points and seven rebounds. • Played a key role in Georgia’s biggest non-conference win, when he scored the decisive basket vs. Virginia Tech with 29 seconds left, then rebounded the Hokies’ last shot.
2007-08 Season • Late bloomer who suddenly thrust himself to the forefront of Georgia’s inside attack as the season waned. • As much as any teammate, his post-season performance was a significant factor behind Georgia’s late surge to the SEC Championship. • Strung together perhaps all of his best collegiate games in mid-February. His performance at Vandy on Feb. 23 resulted in his first-ever starting assignment against Florida. Responded with career-best minutes played (28) and points (12) vs. the Gators. Later bettered his career highs in scoring (16) at Auburn on March 5 and in minutes (38) vs. Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament. • Through the season’s first 14 games, he averaged 1.2 points and 2.3 rebounds. In the last 20, his numbers rose to 7.4 points and 6.4 boards. • Began the season serving a 6-game suspension for violating the UGAA’s academic policy.
2006-07 Season • Already quite proficient at his areas of speciality: rebounding and blocking shots. • Led all Bulldog regulars in FG percentage at 63.9. • Missed the past six games after aggravating a previous shoulder injury in practice the day before the Kentucky game 2/28.
High School • Transferred for his senior season to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., where he averaged six points and four rebounds as a reserve center at the famed prep basketball powerhouse. Oak Hill was 40-1 and finished the season ranked 2nd nationally. Three other teammates signed with “high-major” schools. • For three seasons he was one of the top big men in Kentucky, playing at Hopkins Central High School in Madisonville. • In 2005, he averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks per game for the Storm. • An honors graduate, he was also a member of the DECA and National Beta clubs. • Also played football at Hopkins Central.
Birthdate/Birthplace July 22, 1988 / Earlington, Ky.
Academic Major Child & Family Development
Favorite Food Macaroni and Cheese
Least Favorite Food Beans
Favorite TV Show Family Guy
Channels I Most Often Watch Food Network, Discovery
Number of Songs in my IPod 2,700
Most Listened-To Music Pastor Troy, Yo Gotti, Young Jeezy
Most Famous Person I’ve Ever Met Donald Trump
Hobbies Playing Dominoes & Chess
Biggest Fear Drowning
Favorite Academic Subjects All classes in my major
Most Challenging Subject Math
Non-Athletic Accomplishment I’m Proudest Of Becoming a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity; Getting baptized
Best Advice Anyone Ever Gave Me “Play your heart out.” Favorite Non-Basketball Team Minnesota Vikings Best Friends on Another College Team Jeff Allen (Va. Tech); Scotty Hopson & Wayne Chism (Tenn.)
Sport I’d Most Like to Try Tennis
Most People Don’t Know That... ...I’m taking swimming lessons
Courtesy: Dale Zanine
