Gonna put this out here first, this is going to come off as less hopefully and I believe CMW is going to struggle to maintain some pieces this offseason...

This is what I think the returning players on scholarship is going to look like.

PG -
SG - Blue Cain, Jordyn Kee
SF - Jacob Wilkins,
PF - RJ Godfrey*, Dylan James
C - Justin Abson, Kareem Stag, Jackson, Mcvey

As you can see, I have no Silas, Somto, Deshayne, and Savo. Asa (draft) and tyrinn and dakota (eligibility), are gone no matter what. I put an asterix by RJ's name because I do see a world where he COULD enter the portal, but I believe he will not. He is a Ga kid, started here, has a good role cut out for him.

To first address the players that got little playing time leaving. I think Savo is gone and who is surprised. Burned his redshirt just to get nothing out of him, don't think he loved it here. Oh well, you can take that loss. Deshayne is a polazring topic depending on who you ask. He played great against the low majors in non-conference, but struggled against P5 competition in SEC play and fell out of the rotation. He is raw but has all the tools to be good. This one will kind of sting to lose as he has potential and lots of eligibility left, but that is the name of the game. He can be replaced.

Now onto Silas and Somto. I think Somto came to UGA under the impression that he was going to stay here for a year. Whether it was to turn pro or to transfer up, I do not think this should come as a surprise. Cal is going after him hard to get him to Arkansas, and he was committed to Cal at Kentucky before he left for Arkansas and Somto was forced to make a late choice and choose to stay in GA (he played at OTE in high school). Now that he has a year under his belt, Cal will need bigs, I think he steals Somto. It sucks to see and this kids defensive potential is insane. I think he is an NBA player in a year or two. He is not easily replaceable.

Silas Demary Jr. A kid who walked in Day 1 and had the keys to the program. Upmost trust from CMW, ran the show, has grown, matured into the player he can be, and has shown flashes of really elite guard play and all-sec caliber play. However, this is the name of the game. He will demand a bigger NIL package and explore elsewhere, and I think we can match whatever his biggest offer he gets from other schools, but he is a NC kid, NCST wanted him last year, Silas is the kind of guard that Will Wade LOVES, and I think it is going to be a top priority for him to snag Silas. Long story short, at the end of the day I think we lose him to NcSt. It sucks and really leaves us in a bad spot.

With all of these losses, the priority in the portal should be:
- Elite Caliber PG, good backup
- Good 3&D SF with good size
- If RJ leaves we need another proven PF, someone with size and touch, nothing crazy
- We will need a starting Center. Abson is a very good backup, and the freshman will be okay but raw. We will need some kind of 5, depending on what player CMW wants.

Overall, it will be a long offseason and I won't even begin to speculate who we should target until the portal entries slow down and I can get a better picture of who is realistic and a good fit.

That is some informed speculation. Hate it.

Based on interweb mentions, UGA is on a lot of guys already in the portal, so clearly we are anticipating attrition.

The portal is making it harder and harder to remain a college sports fan.

Nostradawgus said:

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That is some informed speculation. Hate it.

Based on interweb mentions, UGA is on a lot of guys already in the portal, so clearly we are anticipating attrition.

The portal is making it harder and harder to remain a college sports fan.

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Agree. NIL has not negatively affected my enjoyment of college sports one bit. The portal has.

I like that players now have some power, but I do think contracts are necessary (and coming). If they're going to get paid (good!), they should also be required to make a return commitment.

Here's a crazy factoid: the last player to enroll at UGA as a true freshman and play his junior year at UGA was 2017 enrollee Rayshaun Hammonds.

It is really hard to develop an affection for a team and roster that turns over every single year.

I hope Somto tells Cal to go stick it, and Silis does the same with Will Wade.

You don't seem very optimistic. Are you basing all of this on observations or do you have inside information?

One positive thing is that it's been a week since we got knocked out and 3 days since the portal opened and no one has entered yet. That's not true for many other teams.

Definitely informed speculation. I am going to keep who I have direct contact with anonymous, so this will be the only time I say this, but I am good friends with at least one current player + much more staff. However, it is all speculation like you said, so this is my informed guess based off what I hear and know. I think any portal action we have will all be at once, and later down the line. This means that I think anyone who gets in the portal, will know where they are going and will be later in the cycle, and anyone who comes here we will have been pursuing for a while. We have definitely tampered with players this season, as much as I hate it that is the reality. No names on who exactly, but I know there will be 3-4 guys we are already leading in the portal for.

Your insights are appreciated! Keep coming back with updates. No killing of messengers here.

As well we should be tampering - what is good for the wolfpack and razorback is good for the bulldog.

Imma keep my fingers crossed we keep the two most at risk. I see the nexus with those two, but hope they see they can accomplish what they want where they are.

You were right. Silas is gone. Very unfortunate news to not be able to keep the face of the program. He has so much potential and leadership

This was the one that I was the most confident on happening based off what I had been told, however this is the one I was dreading the most and was sad to know it was coming.

Baring some insane crazy NIL package from another school that was not originally in the running, I would basically say NcSt is a lock. Will wade is going to give Silas a huge deal and will build the roster around Silas.

Tough tough tough loss. All of us here know what he means to this program. Not someone easy to replace, and you hate to see that leadership and core centerpiece leave.