Georgia basketball has landed a key addition in former BYU forward Kanon Catchings, a 6’9″ transfer who was once rated a top-40 national recruit. Catchings entered the portal March 29, just two days after BYU’s Sweet 16 exit against Alabama. His commitment comes shortly after visiting North Carolina, which reportedly backed out of the recruitment for undisclosed reasons.
Kanon Catchings Commits to Georgia After UNC Withdrawal: SEC Implications
The former NBA draft prospect showed flashes of his potential during his freshman season in Provo, though he finished the year averaging 7.2 points per game on 41.1% shooting. Catchings’ decision to join the Bulldogs marks a notable recruiting win for Georgia—and a potential game-changer in the evolving landscape of the SEC.
Georgia basketball has secured a former BYU forward from the transfer portal following North Carolina’s sudden decision to halt its recruitment. Once anticipated to join the Tar Heels after an April 12 visit, Catchings instead opted for the Bulldogs after UNC “moved on” from the pursuit, per Tar Heel Illustrated.
NEWS: BYU transfer forward Kanon Catchings has committed to Georgia, source told @On3sports. Also considered North Carolina.
The 6-9 freshman and former top-40 recruit averaged 7.2 points per game this season, shooting 35% from three. https://t.co/65W6UdQoly pic.twitter.com/X09ylsgS9g
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 14, 2025
Catchings, a 6’9″ former top-40 recruit, started the first 14 games of his freshman season in Provo before being moved to a bench role beginning Jan. 11. Over the final 17 games, he averaged just 11 minutes per contest and logged seven games with under 10 minutes of court time.
Despite inconsistent production, he finished the year with 7.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, shooting 41.1% from the field. His standout performance came in a perfect 8-for-8, 23-point outing against Baylor.
Upon signing with BYU, Catchings was the program’s highest-rated recruit ever, though AJ Dybantsa and Xavion Staton have since overtaken that distinction. His exit from BYU came on March 29, just days after the Cougars were eliminated in the Sweet 16 by Alabama.
He becomes just the second BYU player in the portal to announce a new destination, joining Virginia-bound Dallin Hall. Freshman guard Elijah Crawford remains uncommitted.
Catchings now joins a Georgia team seeking to make back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since the 1996–97 seasons. He brings three years of eligibility and adds depth to a frontcourt that lost RJ Sunahara and Silas Demary Jr., the latter now at UConn.
His size, athleticism and stretch-forward skill set could complement returning players like Blue Cain.
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Head coach Mike White’s aggressive portal strategy is clear, and this pickup boosts Georgia’s SEC positioning. Meanwhile, UNC’s withdrawal—potentially tied to NIL expectations or a shift to Alabama transfer Jarin Stevenson—reflects the fluid nature of portal-era recruiting.
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