On Saturday, April 22, former Virginia Commonwealth University forward Jalen DeLoach announced his intention to move to Georgia. Days after RJ Melendez made his choice public, Georgia added a second transfer player to the team.

The native of Savannah, Georgia, wasn’t a highly coveted prospect. According to the 247Sports aggregate, the 2021 prospect was ranked 18th in Georgia and 252nd overall. That didn’t stop DeLoach from having a successful time while attending VCU, though.

With over 10 points per game, nearly 1.5 blocks, and the team lead in rebounds per game (nearly seven), he was chosen to the third team All-A10 in his final season with the Rams. Averaging 10.2 points and more than seven rebounds per game in conference play, he left his mark and helped lead his team to a 27-8 record and an NCAA Tournament berth.

The commitment from DeLoach comes as a surprise as in early April he posted his top six schools that featured NCAA Tournament teams like San Diego State, Penn State, Miami and Indiana, with Georgia not among the top choices.

Though the announcement of his commitment may come as a surprise, the Bulldogs, who finished ninth out of 14 teams in the SEC in rebounding, would greatly benefit from his presence on the court. His 215-pound, 6-foot-9 frame makes them more competitive when they play on the glass. As a result, the Bulldogs will have a greater defensive presence and more scoring opportunities when they take on skilled SEC big men.

DeLoach is the fourth player the Bulldogs have added this summer. Melendez, Dylan James, and Mari Jordan are the other newcomers that join the squad to make up for the six players who left following the season.