Wisconsin Big Man Picks Bulldogs

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 has been a good day for 6-foot-10, 240-pound center Dave Bliss. The Wasau West (Wisc.) High School product celebrated his 18th birthday, he attended a National Honor Society banquet and he faxed his National Letter of Intent to the University of Georgia, where he’ll play basketball for the Bulldogs.

Bliss visited Athens two weeks ago and after mulling over the trip and considering the pros and cons, he decided to make it official and sign with the SEC program.

“He wanted to find a place that was the highest level of basketball and academics,” Wasau West head coach Chris Scholl said. “He found it at Georgia. He had a chance to spend some time with coach Dennis Felton and the players as well as the academic counselors. It was the best of both worlds.”

Bliss’s signing helps diminish the academic problems caused by the previous Georgia coaching regime. Bliss is the No. 1 student in his class of 394 students and scored a 31 on the ACT. His size also adds an immediate presence on a frontline-depleted rotation. Scholl said his former player will likely see court time right away.

“They told him that they didn’t intend on red shirting him and wanted him to immediately play and learn on the fly,” Scholl said. “(Assistant) coach (Pete) Shermann thinks Dave has the intelligence and skill to play next year. Plus Dave wants to be the best player he can be. He believes Georgia gives him the best opportunity to find out what kind of player he will be.”

Wisconsin and Washington State both wanted Bliss to walk on at their respective programs. Central Michigan, William & Mary, Southern Illinois and Holy Cross all offered scholarships to the big man.

Bliss is the fourth player to sign with the Bulldogs. Channing Toney, Sundiata Gaines and Robert Dozier round out the first class for Felton at UGA. The Bulldogs already have pledges from the hottest backcourt duo in the nation Louis Williams and Mike Mercer for the 2005 class.