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2025 NBA Draft: Georgia to Roll Out Trio Of Prospects

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2025 NBA Draft: Georgia to Roll Out Trio Of Prospects


The Georgia Bulldogs have failed to make the NCAA tournament since 2015 and have had no tournament success since 1996 but could this year be the change in the right direction? They have a top ten recruiting class this season as they have two five-stars and two three-star recruits.

They are bringing in power forward Asa Newell and center Somto Cyril who will share the front court together for the Bulldogs next season. Their top transfer is Tyrin Lawrence who played for Vanderbilt this past season. These three prospects have a chance to be drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft so let’s dive into their games and how they fit with each other.

With their potential top-10 pick, Newell played for Montverde Academy where he won a national championship this past season in the Chipotle Nationals. He was their starting power forward that brought a ton of versatility to the lineup. Newell is very skilled with two-way potential. He can make jumpers consistently, be an above the rim finisher and shows flashes off the dribble.

Defensively he does a very good job of being a valuable secondary rim protector while being capable of defending out in space. His mobility and tools paired with his talent makes him an enticing prospect. On the other hand Newell needs to add strength as he has a thin frame, struggles to finish through contact and is not a great post defender quite yet.

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With their other five-star recruit in Cyril they are getting a physically imposing center that dominates the paint on both ends of the floor. He stands at 6-foot-10 and has a very long wingspan. Cyril spent a couple years in the Overtime Elite League where he was named the defensive player of the year this past season. With that being said he will obviously be a defensive presence in the interior as he does a great job at protecting the rim at a high level. This past season in OTE he averaged 3.3 blocks per game while also altering a ton of shots at the rim. 

Offensively he’s a bit raw and doesn’t have a ton of perimeter skill, but he does offer vertical floor spacing and is an elite lob threat with his explosive athleticism at 6-foot-10. He can be a play finisher and do the dirty work to generate second chance points. He can fill a lot of the holes that Newell has and vice versa so the big man duo should fit very well next to each other at Georgia.

Their incoming transfer in Lawrence will play a major role for Georgia this upcoming season. He’s a fifth year senior that played all four years for Vanderbilt. He was a starter in 80 out of the 105 games he played there. Although his 3-point percentage isn’t ideal, he’s a much better outside shooter than his past season percentage suggests. He’s a good shooter off the catch that showed the ability to make difficult shots off the dribble.

The 13-point scorer is capable of scoring the ball at all three levels while also consistently improving as a perimeter defender. He’s not a very good playmaker but that’s okay as he has a clear role on the team as a scorer and a capable defender. His leadership and being a college vet should pair well with the incoming five-star recruits.

Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

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Why Southern Living is spotlighting serene coastal escape in Georgia

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Why Southern Living is spotlighting serene coastal escape in Georgia


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A quiet stretch of the Georgia coast is back in the national spotlight.

In a recent feature, Southern Living highlighted the Golden Isles as one of the South’s most serene escapes, praising the region’s undeveloped marshes, barrier islands and slower pace compared to other East Coast beach destinations.

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Located roughly halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, the Golden Isles include Brunswick, Sea Island, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and Little St. Simons Island.

Here’s what to know.

What makes Georgia’s Golden Isles different?

Unlike more densely developed beach towns in neighboring states, Georgia’s coastline is defined by tidal creeks, salt marshes and wide stretches of protected land.

“The coast of Georgia is quite different than the shores of North Carolina or South Carolina,” Southern Living wrote. “It’s wilder and quieter, and it’s much less populated with beach towns.”

While the islands offer modern resorts and vacation homes, much of the natural character remains intact.

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One of the most photographed spots is Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, known for its haunting remains of a maritime forest scattered along the shoreline.

Where are visitors staying?

The publication pointed to several well-known properties across the islands:

  • The Cloister at Sea Island
  • Jekyll Island Club Resort
  • St. Simons Island: The Grey Owl Inn and the St. Simons Lighthouse.

Little St. Simons Island, accessible only by boat, was highlighted for its all-inclusive lodge and thousands of acres of protected marshland and upland habitat.

What can you do in the Golden Isles?

Southern Living emphasized simple, immersive experiences:

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  • Biking under live oaks
  • Kayaking through marsh creeks
  • Horseback riding along the beach
  • Watching sunsets over the water.

Public beaches like East Beach on St. Simons Island remain open to visitors, while golf courses on Jekyll Island and St. Simons offer year-round play.

The region’s history also plays a major role. Visitors can climb the St. Simons Lighthouse, explore historic districts in Brunswick or learn about Gullah Geechee heritage through local organizations.

For more information, visit southernliving.com/georgias-golden-isles-11906085.

Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.



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Gov. Kemp signs amended FY 2026 budget, delivering $2B in Georgia tax relief

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Gov. Kemp signs amended FY 2026 budget, delivering B in Georgia tax relief


Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp on Tuesday signed HB 973, the amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

The amended budget includes $2 billion in income and property tax relief, alongside investments in education, public safety, mental health, transportation and rural development.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones praised Gov. Kemp, saying the budget…

“Makes critical investments in middle-class families, mental health services, healthcare workforce development, transportation and Georgia’s veterans community.”

Key allocations in the amended budget include:

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  • Education and Workforce Development: $325 million to endow the DREAMS Scholarship, a new needs-based scholarship program; $6 million for a Career Navigator tool; and funding for new and expanded programs at University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia institutions.
  • Public Safety: $150 million for Department of Corrections bed space, $9.7 million for additional corrections officers, $15 million for a new K-9 training facility, and $50 million to help communities address homelessness, including among veterans.
  • Mental Health: $409 million to design and construct a new Georgia Regional Hospital to expand mental health bed capacity.
  • Transportation: More than $1.6 billion to extend and expand I-75 express lanes in Henry County; $185 million for SR 316 interchange conversions; $100 million for rural bridge rehabilitation and replacement; and $250 million for local maintenance and improvement grants.
  • Rural Georgia: $15 million for rural site development grants; $35 million for a new natural gas infrastructure program; and $8.9 million for the Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative.

Governor Kemp says the state’s conservative budgeting approach has allowed Georgia to provide tax relief while making “generational investments.”



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Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’

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Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’


Middle Georgia Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has issued a statement regarding the U.S. and Israel’s joint strikes on Iran over the weekend.

According to other WGXA articles, based on reports as of early March 2026, the United States and Israel have launched major, coordinated military operations against Iran, labeled in reports as “Operation Epic Fury” and “Operation Midnight Hammer”. This follows months of failed nuclear negotiations and escalating regional tensions.

RELATED | Hegseth insists US-Israel strikes on Iran are ‘not Iraq, not endless’

WGXA asked Middle Georgia DSA, the largest activist organization in Middle Georgia, for their opinions on the strikes, and they responded with this:

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The strikes on Iran, carried out by the United States and Israel, mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal act of aggression. The Iranian people do not deserve to live in fear of American bombs and of the instability of regime change. Americans do not want our tax dollars and the lives of our people to be wasted on opening up a new war in the Middle East, or on bombing girls’ elementary schools. We want relief from the affordability crisis. We want peace. Middle Georgia DSA unequivocally condemns these attacks and any politicians who cannot do the same. We do not want this, we do not deserve this.

DSA added that they are not currently planning any protests at this time, and that they “remain focused on improving the conditions of people who live within our communities directly, and do not feel a protest is the best strategy to deliver on that.”

Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’, March 2, 2026 (Image is meant to say 2026 instead of 2025, Courtesy of GCSU Mutual Aid)

However, GCSU Mutual Aid, a grassroots, community-led initiative focused on collective care and resource sharing within the Milledgeville and broader Middle Georgia area. While not an official department of Georgia College & State University (GCSU), it frequently operates in coordination with student-led groups and local residents to address gaps in traditional social safety nets.

RELATED | GCSU encourages peaceful expression ahead of national ICE walkout

GCSU Mutual Aid is planning a protest for Wednesday, where they will be “Marching for Democracy” in retaliation to recent events in the U.S.

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