Sports

Georgia Basketball Star Proves Matt Leinart Right In Refusal To Unretire Jersey Number For Top Recruits

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© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / © Mady Mertens-Imagn Images / © Adam Hagy-Imagn Images


Georgia basketball star Jake Wilkins is leaving Athens after just one season. The son of former NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins will no longer play for his father’s school.

The forward announced his transfer plans on social media following his freshman year. In doing so, he proved Matt Leinart right.

Leinart refuses to unretire his jersey number to help his old team’s recruiting efforts. He provided reasoning this offseason.

Matt Leinart doesn’t trust the younger generation.

The quarterback was an All-American at USC where he won the 2004 Heisman trophy. Leinart led the program to a pair of national titles during his time on campus.

As a result, his jersey was retired. The school honors all of its Heisman winners.

USC Jersey Numbers Retired

© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images


Once a jersey number is retired, it is off limits to newcomers unless permission is granted. No one has worn #11 at USC since Leinart. It will remain that way, the quarterback says.

“There have been multiple times where someone at USC has asked me if I would unretire my jersey for some 5-star prospect,” he revealed on his podcast. “You wanna know what I told those guys, straight up? Absolutely f—ing not.

“I am never going to unretire my jersey for some random dude, who now, could wear #11 and transfer after a year.”

Leinart is only willing to make concessions for his sons, one of whom currently plays at SMU.

Interestingly enough, that was the exact scenario that unfolded with Jake Wilkins at Georgia – and the forward proved Leinart’s point.

Jake Wilkins wore #21.

Dominique Wilkins, AKA The Human Highlight Film, starred for the Bulldogs between 1980-82. The two-time All-American averaged 21.6 points across a three-year span before becoming a first-round NBA draft pick.

He became the first Georgia basketball player to have his jersey retired in 1991.

His son, Jake, followed in his father’s footsteps. The four-star recruit committed to UGA over Virginia as a 2025 prospect. He wore the same #21 jersey number as a freshman.

Dominique Wilkins unretired the number for his son. It may again be off limits in the very near future.

Jake Wilkins announced his transfer intentions after Year 1. He will no longer play for his dad’s alma mater. Even with the family ties, the Bulldogs couldn’t keep him on campus. The portal came calling!

Wilkins is a freak athlete. Like his father, Jake is a walking highlight reel.

He showed flashes of greatness as a freshman but averaged just 4.9 points per game in limited minutes. That included four double-digit scoring effort in his first five games with the program.

Playing time dipped as the Bulldogs entered the conference schedule, which may have factored into the decision.

For Georgia, Wilkins becomes the sixth player from an NCAA Tournament roster to hit the portal. It seems unlikely that #21 will be worn in Athens next year.