Georgia may be getting a key piece back just in time for a tough road test in Lexington.
Sophomore guard Jeremiah Wilkinson, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer, is no longer listed on the team’s availability report ahead of Tuesday’s matchup at Kentucky. That’s a significant development for a Georgia squad that’s dropped back-to-back games without him, falling to Florida at home and Oklahoma on the road.
Wilkinson, who averages 17.1 points per game and leads the team in steals with 41, had made the trip to Oklahoma but was ultimately ruled out the day before the game. After the loss, head coach Mike White didn’t offer much clarity on Wilkinson’s status, saying his focus was solely on the Sooners.
“I have no idea. The thought hadn’t crossed my mind today.
I was just locked in on Oklahoma,” White said. “If I knew, I’d let you know.
Obviously, he would make a difference whenever he’s on the court for us, but we didn’t defend at a high enough level tonight - today, rather - to give ourselves a chance.”
White had previously said there was no timetable for Wilkinson’s return following the Florida game, but he was clear about what the Bulldogs miss when their sophomore spark plug isn’t on the floor.
“He’s probably our best isolation player. Our best guy, especially against teams that are super extended like that, that force you to put your head down,” White said.
“His speed, of course, getting to the rim and just getting layups. He’s got a unique ability at 6-1, even at this level.
It’s just very rare to just put his head down and go get a layup, right? Maybe he gets three or four of those in this game.”
Wilkinson brings more than just scoring. He’s a tone-setter - confident, aggressive, and fearless - the kind of player who can flip the momentum with one drive or defensive stop. When Georgia’s offense stalls early, he’s often the one to get things going.
That was missing against Florida, and the Bulldogs felt it. It was the first game Wilkinson missed all season, and while others tried to fill the void, the absence of their go-to scorer was hard to ignore.
“Jeremiah definitely contributes a lot of stuff,” said wing Blue Cain. “I feel like we had some guys step up.
I thought Smurf [Millender] played really well. I thought Kareem [Stagg] was really good.
So I mean I think we had guys step up. It wasn’t enough, but I thought some guys stepped up.”
Still, there's only so much you can replace when a player like Wilkinson is sidelined. At 41.9% from the field and 33.5% from deep, he gives Georgia a reliable scoring option who can create his own shot - a luxury in SEC play, especially against elite defensive teams like Kentucky.
Neither Georgia nor Kentucky had any players listed on Monday’s availability report, which is a strong signal that Wilkinson could be back in the mix. If he’s cleared to go, it’s a major boost for the Bulldogs as they try to get back on track.
Georgia’s recent struggles have exposed how vital Wilkinson is to their identity. His return - if it happens - could be the jolt this team needs to reset its rhythm and compete at the level they’ve shown they’re capable of.