“He says, ‘Man, No. 11 was really cheering on No. 4,’” Fox recounted Wednesday. “That was real impressive to him, so much so that he wanted to make sure I recognized it.”
The scout needn’t have pointed it out. The Bulldogs had long taken note of No. 11’s attitude.
Yet Fox has trumpeted their value to the team not just this week but throughout the year. “They have been unbelievably selfless in their roles,” he said. “Those guys have been very team-first guys.”
Williams, a 6-foot guard out of Homestead, Fla., was Fox's first signee. He has started 21 of 29 games this season and 40 in his career. He's averaging 4.9 points in 19.9 minutes of playing time per game but has gradually seen Mann pick up more and more of his minutes.
“Charles Mann is a great, great player,” Williams said. “He’s a freshman but in my eyes he doesn’t play like a freshman. It’s kind of fun. I look at it as I’m coaching him. I’ve taught him some things, but he already has a great mind for the game.”
Brantley, a 6-2 guard out of Dublin, started his career at Northwest Florida State. He came to the Bulldogs after just one year in junior college as a 3-point shooting specialist. He will leave having played in 90 games with four starts and a 2.7-point scoring average.
“You’re here to do the best you can to help the team,” Brantley said. “The team isn’t coming to you; you’re coming to the team. So, I’m very happy with my role. I like being a guy that comes in and shoots the ball and tries to give us an edge. I’m fine if you want me to start, too. Whatever we need.”
Meanwhile, Georgia (14-15, 8-8) wants to hold onto its spot in the middle of the league in order to avoid having to play on the first day of next week’s SEC tournament. To assure itself of that it has to score at least one victory against the Wildcats or on the road at Alabama on Saturday.
But regardless of what happens down the stretch, Georgia’s three seniors have proven their worth the Bulldogs.
“One of the most rewarding things in coaching is to see young men become men,” Fox said. “You’re proud of the development they’ve made as people. Those three guys are going to graduate. They’re going to make society better no matter what they choose to do and wherever they choose to live and that’s very rewarding.”
