Trey Thompkins Returning To UGA: How Good will the Bulldogs Be in 2010?

Yes, I am aware. Spring football has just concluded, and it's about time people start writing about the NFL draft and early college football picks.

But not so fast, my friend. On the brink of the NBA playoffs I will focus on basketball today, with great news regarding the University of Georgia basketball program.

"Mr. Everything" sophomore forward Howard "Trey" Thompkins declared at a banquet Thursday night, in front of his head coach Mark Fox, that he will return to school to play basketball for the Dawgs next year.

While many might be oblivious, Thompkins was one of two Bulldog basketball players, the other being Travis Leslie, who were projected to be lottery picks in the upcoming NBA draft.

This fact might sneak up on some Georgia fans who usually disregard the historically bad Georgia basketball program.

But the future in Athens could not be brighter under Fox, and the declarations by Thompkins and dunk master Leslie to return to school should have many picking the Dawgs to drastically improve upon their 14-17 record from last season.

Although Georgia finished dead last in the SEC East—granted, a very strong SEC East—they were deemed by nearly every opponent head coach as "the best last-place team in the nation."

Georgia definitely proved that to be a fact during the course of the past year, winning home games versus Illinois, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Florida.

Their progressive maturation was also an indicator of the coaching ability of Fox, who took a team that couldn't go a minute without turning the ball over and turned them into one of the most fundamentally sound basketball teams in the SEC.

Georgia, with mostly "inferior talent," became extremely competitive through unrivaled coaching success. Fans showed their appreciation by constantly praising the team and Fox, despite their record.

But Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie are not at all inferior, and both evolved into great players by the end of the season. Coming into next year, with both returning to school, there is no doubt pundits will have their eyes on Georgia as a sleeper to compete in the SEC.

Thompkins, whose vague interviews of late had many believing he was a 50-50 shot at leaving school, mentioned Georgia's potential to be a "great" team as a reason for him to pass off millions of dollars to stay at a basketball program that has been in the shadows for years.

Trey was second in the SEC in scoring last year with 17.7 points per game and fourth in rebounds with 8.3 per game.

His athleticism stretches the entire court. His 6'9" frame makes him a dunk waiting to happen under the basket. His touch and craftiness around the rim are works of a magician.

He can shoot from anywhere on the floor too, including deep. He shot 37.7 percent from three last year.

With nearly Kentucky's entire team leaving for the NBA, Thompkins might just be able to grab the SEC East spotlight as the division's best player.

His quiet persona and affiliation with a smaller basketball school has made him one of the most overlooked players in the nation.

Thompkins will be teaming up with fellow sophomore Travis Leslie, who showed his potential by scoring 34 points in a loss to Vanderbilt in the second round of the SEC tournament.

Leslie is a developed jump shot away from being one of the most electrifying specimens in the nation. His amazing dunks and gravity defying layups made him a weekly feature in SportsCenter 's Top 10 Plays.

Leslie, as the third guard, averaged 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds a game.

In contrast with the fallout on Georgia's football team with the early departures from Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford, the news of these two players' returns should have all Georgia fans applauding.

These two hoop stars might be just as valuable as Moreno and Stafford were to their respective teams, and they are likely going to be instrumental in turning around the UGA basketball program that has been dormant for so long.

If Thompkins and Leslie were at a marquee school, their commitments to the university would be headline news at ESPN.

The dynamic duo will combine with a talented freshman class, consisting of two 6'9" beasts in Cady Lalanne and Donte Williams. Jeremy Price, who started to return to his All-SEC-freshman form last season, should combine with the freshman class to make Georgia one of the stronger interior teams in the league.

Georgia's only notable loss will be the graduation of senior and former walk-on shooting guard Ricky McPhee. McPhee's shooting expertise will be expected to be filled by another under the radar player, JUCO transfer Sherrard Brantley.

Dustin Ware evolved into a sharpshooter as well as the 2009 season progressed.

The one thing Georgia is going to have for the first time in years, heading into a season, is confidence.

They know they are a good team, and they believe they can be great. Whatever "greatness" implies, the swagger of this basketball program, lead by the more likeable Mark in Athens, has loyal fans whispering of potential success on the hardwood.

This will no doubt be the most anticipated basketball season at UGA since the turn of the century, and we have the right to believe the coaches and players aren't going to get in trouble with violations and arrests.

Hold your head up high, Georgia fans, because the craziness of sports in Georgia nation is about to become a full-year affair.

There. Now that I've concluded on Georgia hoops, let's talk about this Mettenberger guy...