Mike White signed four players at Florida that went on to be NBA Draft picks.

He signed a player that may be on a similar trajectory Wednesday when five-star power forward Asa Newell became the first member of the Georgia basketball 2024 recruiting class.

The 6-foot-10, 215-pound Newell, who plays at Montverde Academy in Florida, was a priority target when White arrived in Athens from Gainesville in March of 2022.

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“We were recruiting him at Florida, we’ve known his family for a long time," White, in his second season as Bulldogs coach, said Thursday. “He’s a wonderful kid, wonderful family. Obviously, a high-level talent we expect to impact immediately in a big, big way. Not only on the court but who he is as a person."

His brother, Jaden, joined the team as a walk-on forward last season.

“Credit, big brother Ja-New, as the lead recruiter,” White said. “Jaden knows the ins and outs of our program. Asa’s kind of been an extension of our family since we got here. Really, really excited of course.”

Assistant coach Erik Pastrana was the lead recruiter on staff.

Newell is the nation’s No. 8 prospect in the 247Sports Composite. Georgia has only had one other recruit ranked higher that signed and played for the Bulldogs — Anthony Edwards, the 2020 NBA No. 1 overall pick.

Newell is, "an elite defender and rebounder from day one with a big-time motor,” White said. “He’s used to winning. High character, a hard-playing guy who’s developing offensively. He’s a guy that can play a couple of positions up front, he can stretch the defense with a beautiful stroke with a high release and quick release. Can drive it. Really good on the offensive glass."

He averaged 14 points and 8.7 rebounds as a sophomore for Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., before transferring to powerhouse Montverde, which finished No. 4 nationally in the USA Today Sports Super 25 last season. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds as a junior.

"He’s developing every day offensively," White said. "He’s a hard, hard worker. He’s got a chance to be a special player.”

Montverde Academy had five players sign Wednesday, including Cooper Flagg (Duke), Robert Wright (Baylor), Liam McNeely (Indiana) and Curtis Givens (LSU).

White signed the SEC’s No. 2 ranked recruiting class for 2023, led by guards Blue Cain and Silas Demary Jr. Cain had 12 points and 2 steals and Demary 8 points and 5 rebounds in Georgia’s 82-71 season-opening loss to Oregon Monday in Las Vegas.

The Bulldogs home opener is Friday at 7 p.m. against Wake Forest.

Newell and perhaps other major targets that Georgia is pursuing will join the Bulldogs next season.

“It’s exciting that a player of his caliber with all the options that he had chose the University of Georgia,” White said.

Guard Jabri Abdur-Rahim, who signed with Virginia as a top 40 prospect in 2020, got to see Newell on a couple of his visits when he spent time with his brother.

“I know he’s really good, he said. "I’ve seen video, I’ve seen film of him. Everybody talks so highly of him so I know he’s a really good player. It’s really exciting for UGA to get a recruit like that, a talented recruit. I know it’s going to help the program even more.”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Here's what Mike White said about Georgia basketball 5-star Asa Newell