ATLANTA -- Savannah-based big man and Georgia commit Amanze Ngumezi is ready to make his impact in Athens, and he's modeling his game after one of the best to come through the Bulldogs' hoops program in some time.
“It’s the home school, and I feel it’s where I best fit at with Yante Maten being the player he is. With him being a senior and going out, I feel I can take his position, show some of that same versatility, and shoot the three," Ngumezi said. "I feel like I take after Yante Maten’s game. With him being a big time player at Georgia, I feel I can fill his shoes, and it’s the home school. My parents loved it. They love the University of Georgia. Around Savannah, that’s all you see.”
Having that love of state instilled in him from his hometown, the decision was seemingly a no brainer for the four-star power forward.
“It’s big to me. Loyalty is big to me, and I want to be loyal to my state," Ngumezi said. "I could go to Savannah State, but their basketball program isn’t doing the best. If they were big, I’d go there, but with Georgia being the biggest in the state and them giving me a scholarship, why not go there? I can represent home.”
In fact, Ngumezi hopes to instill that trend through his commitment and play for the Bulldogs.
“You see North Carolina players, and that’s where they come from. I feel Georgia players should do the same thing," he said. "Georgia is thought of as a football school that overlooks basketball, but I feel as if all the best players in the state went to the University of Georgia, we could turn the program around. That’s why I feel like me going there is going to allow guys to do. Ashton Hagans and Elias King came over, and I feel like with us three, we can get more recruits coming to Georgia.”
If the Rivals150 star is able to live up to the Yante Maten expectations in Athens, it may go a long way to forwarding those efforts, and coaches believe he's up to the task.
"They showed me [Maten's] highlights and how he got All-SEC team," Ngumezi said. "They’ve told me I could do the same, represent my state, and be loyal to Georgia, so why not? [I'm working on getting] his motor. He plays all four quarters, and he doesn’t get tired. There are a couple of times I had to come out today, but I know Georgia will get my stamina right. With me being in high school, I can get away with it because I’m bigger than everybody. That’s what I need to work on.”
There are aspects that do not need as much refinement, however.
“My versatility," Ngumezi said of his strengths. "I can play inside or out. I can give a coach whatever he needs. If he needs someone to shoot the three, I can do that, or if he needs someone to create plays down the court, I can give him that. I can also guard one through five, too. If someone tries to set a pick and thinks I won’t be able to handle it because I’m a big guy and can’t guard, they’ll have something coming.”
Speaking of something coming, Ngumezi is working to make sure there's more to the 2018 Georgia hoops class.
“Khavon Moore, EJ Montgomery, and I’ve been bugging a couple of others a little bit," he said. "Christian Brown is Ashton’s job. I’ve been working on guys in my class.”
For now, the young star is focusing on making sure C.A. Johnson High's season is as special as he and others believe it can be.
“My goal this season is average a double-double and take my team to the state championship and win," Ngumezi said. "This is my coach’s last year. He told me the last thing he wants before he retires is a state championship ring. I promised him I’d get that for him.”
