Even without Favors, UGA, Tech land solid classes

Junior Albert Jackson is the only true center on Georgia’s roster. The Bulldogs addressed that position for the future Wednesday when Daniel Miller, a 6-feet-11, 240-pound senior at Loganville Christian Academy, signed his letter of intent.

Miller joined guard DeMario Mayfield, a 6-4 guard from Franklin County High School, in signing with the Bulldogs on the first day of the early signing period.

Rated the No. 8 center prospect by ESPN.com, Miller averaged 28.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.0 blocks in leading his school to the championship of the Independent Christian Schools of Georgia-Alabama.

“For a player of his size, he has tremendous hands, touch and instincts for the game,” Georgia coach Dennis Felton said. “He can score with his back to the basket and also facing up to 18 feet. He also has a real knack for rebounding and blocking shots, most of which he keeps in play.”

Mayfield is a versatile guard who averaged 24.6 points, 6.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds as a junior.

“I believe he can be equally comfortable and effective on and off the ball,” Felton said. “His size and versatility should provide us with many options during the course of his career.”

Georgia and Georgia Tech are among the four schools that Derrick Favors, Scout.com’s No. 1 prospect, is considering. But the 6-9 senior from South Atlanta has said he won’t sign until the spring period.

Even so, Tech will land one of the nation’s top recruiting classes in the early period. Coach Paul Hewitt could not comment Wednesday because Tech had not yet received the letters of intent.

The class consists of 6-8 forward Kammeon Holsey (Hancock Central), 6-3 point guard Mfon Udofia (Miller Grove), 6-5 guard Glen Rice Jr. (Walton) and 6-6 forward Brian Oliver (William Penn in New Castle, Del.)

Rivals.com puts Tech’s class No. 7, while Scout.com has the Jackets No. 20. ESPN.com’s Paul Biancardi said the Jackets definitely will make his Top 25, which he was still working on Wednesday.

“Holsey and Udofia can contribute right away and Rice and Oliver down the road,” Biancardi said. “It’s a group you have consistency and stability with, and quite frankly, over the course of four years, you win a lot of games with.”

Favors is considering Tech, Georgia, Memphis and N.C. State.

If Tech gets Favors, too, Biancardi said, “now you go from winning games to being in a position to win championships.”

Georgia State signed 6-10 center James Vincent from Northside-Columbus and also has a commitment from 6-9 Rashanti Harris of Columbus, Miss., rated the No. 5 center by Scout.com.

Coach Rod Barnes said Vincent is fully recovered from a knee injury that ended his junior season.

“Because of his injury, he might not be very well known, but with his size and athletic ability, he has tremendous potential,” Barnes said.

On the women’s side, Georgia signed the No. 3 class in the nation, according to The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and the All-Star Girls Basketball Report. The reigning Miss Georgia Basketball, Wesleyan’s Anne Marie Armstrong, heads the four-member class.

“She represents the tallest perimeter player that we’ve ever had at 6-3,” coach Andy Landers said. “She has excellent skills and a lot of untapped potential. All she’s done is win. She’s dominated several sports in high school [volleyball, track], and I’m eager to see what happens when she concentrates on one.”

EARLY SIGNEES

These players have signed or are expected to sign during the early signing period, which began Wednesday and runs through Nov. 19.

GEORGIA — Men

C Daniel Miller, 6-10, Loganville Christian Academy: Averaged 28.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.0 blocks and 4.4 assists while shooting 79 percent from the field.

G DeMario Mayfield, 6-4, Franklin County: Averaged 24.6 points, 6.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds last season.

GEORGIA — Women

F Anne Marie Armstrong, 6-3, Wesleyan: Reigning Miss Georgia Basketball can play anywhere; averaged 19.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 blocks.

F Tamika Willis, 6-2, Westlake: Powerful inside player who averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks.

G Jasmine James, 5-8, Memphis Bartlett: Averaged 24.8 points in leading her school to first state tournament berth in 80 years.

F Jasmine Hassell, 6-2, Nashville Wilson Central: Tennessee’s Class AAA Miss Basketball averaged 21.9 points and won second state title in three years.

GEORGIA TECH — Men

F Kammeon Holsey, 6-8, Hancock Central: Class A player of the year is a terrific leaper who averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds.

PG Mfon Udofia, 6-3, Miller Grove: Super-quick floor leader led DeKalb County in scoring at 24.3 points a game, added 5.4 assists and 3.7 steals.

G/F Glen Rice Jr., 6-5, Walton: Son of former NBA star can light it up; averaged 25.6 points, 6.4 rebounds.

F Brian Oliver, 6-6, New Castle (Del.) William Penn: Smooth jumpshooter averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.

GEORGIA TECH — Women

PG Sharena Taylor, 5-9, Detroit Country Day School: Physical, tenacious guard can hit the three or finish at the basket.

SG Jasmine Blain, 6-2, North Cobb Christian: Terrific shooter has scored more than 1,080 points in her career.

C Shayla Bivins, 6-5, Jacksonville Stanton Prep School: Powerful inside player with tremendous potential.

GEORGIA STATE — Men

C Rashanti Harris, 6-9, Columbus (Miss.) New Hope: Now at a prep school in Patterson, N.C., Scout.com’s No. 5 center is a relentless rebounder and defender who needs to develop his offensive game. He’s the highest-rated prospect ever signed by the Panthers.

C James Vincent, 6-10, Northside-Columbus: Averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks last year; has recovered from a major knee injury that ended his season.

GEORGIA STATE — Women

F Erika Sumpter, 6-0, Orangeburg (S.C.) Orangeburg-Wilkinson: Averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds as a junior.

G Jerlisa Taylor, 5-6, Douglas County: Averaged 11.6 points, 3.1 assists and 2.3 steals last season.