Georgia Basketball: Why Tyrin Lawrence is the most important team transfer for 2024-25

While not exactly renowned for basketball prowess, Georgia has been in relatively decent shape since Mike White took over the program two years ago. The former Florida coach got to 20 wins last season thanks to a solid NIT run, though his Bulldogs still finished just 11th place in a deep and talented SEC. While the future remains uncertain, we do know that there were a lot of moving pieces in the offseason.

Last year’s double-digit scorers are both gone, as Noah Thomasson graduated and Jabri Abdur-Rahim transferred to Providence. Half a dozen Bulldogs left the program through the Transfer Portal, but is it cause for major concern? Perhaps most importantly, Georgia brings back both Silas Demary Jr. and Blue Cain, two freshmen guards from last season who both showed signs of significant potential.

The Tigers added quite the selection of players through the Portal, starting with forwards Justin Abson from Appalachian State and RJ Godfrey of Clemson. White’s staff actually nabbed a pair of guards from Mount St. Mary’s, getting Dakota Leffew and De’Shayne Montgomery, with the former coming off a really productive freshman campaign.

The most critical addition came from inside the ACC, as Georgia adds former Vanderbilt wing Tyrin Lawrence into the fold. Himself a native of Georgia, Lawrence played sparingly as an underclassman before turning into a major weapon for the Commodores. Last year he averaged 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds as a full-time starting guard, though his shooting numbers took a slight step backwards.

With all of the wholesale changes in this rotation, Lawrence’s experience is a major selling point for the Bulldogs. This team is going to be leaning heavily on Cain and Demary as sophomores in addition to a few freshmen recruits. Being able to lean on someone with extensive SEC experience is certainly beneficial for this young squad.

On the court Lawrence can provide more than just a warm body with experience. At his best, he’s a solid interior scorer who plays efficient basketball and can really be counted on to move this offense. He also finished among the SEC’s leaders in steals and will be a total package if at his best with the Bulldogs. The former Georgia high school star has a chance to do something special in his final season of college ball.

A young and talented Georgia team actually has a chance to contend in the SEC if everything goes right in the coming months. A major part of that depends on Lawrence and these other transfers to gel in White’s system. Can Lawrence become the dependable senior guard that this team needs? Could this become a memorable season for a Bulldogs squad built on high-level talent?