Georgia added one more name to their 2015 signing class, with the spring signing period starting tomorrow. Michael Edwards, a 6'9 F from Westland, Michigan commited yesterday almost a year after Georgia pulled Yante Maten also from the Detroit area.
Mark Fox will hope Edwards can provide as much immediate help as Maten was able to this past season to his low post rotation. Marcus Thornton and Nemi Djurisic have graduated, leaving the starting PF and C spots open to competition. Maten is expected to fill one of these spots, with Edwards now joining fellow incoming freshman Derek Ogbeide and returning players Cameron Forte, Houston Kessler, and Osahen Iduwe in competing for the remaining low post minutes.
Edwards was a fast riser among spring recruits, as he saw several offers this spring from around the Big 10 and SEC. He recently visited Nebraska this past weekend, and the weather difference between the two schools may or may not have helped him in the decision announced last night. Edwards game is different than Maten and Ogbeide, who seem most comfortable close to the rim, and adds a PF who can space the floor with a decent handle and mid range jumper. He's also 6'9, with the frame to add more weight and compete on the interior similar to Maten, who is also 6'9.
Edwards may or may not be the final piece to a 2015 class that includes Ogbeide, local product Will Jackson, and Texas SF E'torrion Wilridge. Georgia is still in the discussion for 5 star Jaylen Brown, although others like Kansas, UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina, and now California with his buddy Ivan Rabb, are in that mix. Georgia could also still be pursuing wing Kobe Eubanks, and VCU commit Tevin Mack may also become available now that Shaka Smart is headed to Texas. Fox supposedly finished second for Mack after a long courtship, and could be back in for the Palmetto State shooter if he is released from his letter of intent by the next VCU staff.
But as of now, the roster has hit its' fill of 13 players. So if Mack, Eubanks, or Brown want to join this squad someone else will likely be shuffled off (or at least off scholarship as may ultimately be the case).