Bulldog basketball got some great news today, opening its 2027 class with a commitment from a national top 50 recruit from right down the road. North Oconee shooting guard Justin Wise announced on his Instagram account that he has committed to the Bulldogs over Miami, Tennessee, Texas, Vanderbilt, and an host of other elite programs.
The four star Wise is ranked as the #5 shooting guard and #63 overall prospect in the 2027 class according to 247Sports. He’a also the first commitment in the 2027 cycle
for Mike White, who’s coming off his team’s second consecutive March Madness appearance (and first round exit).
Wise’s pledge is a welcome sign for Dawg fans. White has done a lot to return the Red and Black to consistent respectability. But one issue that has persisted under his tenure is the Bulldogs’ inability to scoop up a solid share of the wealth of basketball talent the state of Georgia produces every year. Perennially the Peach State produces several top national recruits. For example, six of the current 247Sports top 50 for 2027 are Georgians. But the Athenians have had a tough time getting those blue choppers to stay and play for the state’s flagship school. In fact no player ranked #1 in the state in 247’s high school rankings has stayed home to play for the Dawgs since Anthony Edwards chose the Red and Black in 2019.
I’m not sure Wise is headed toward being the top overall pick in the NBA Draft, but he is a solid addition to a Bulldog roster that continues to trend in the right direction talent-wise.
Go ‘Dawgs!!!
