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Georgia's Rashaad Singleton tries for a jump shot as Grambling State's Jarred Riley attempts to block during a game November 14, 2007 at Stegeman Coliseum. Singleton later left the team in January 2008.

Former basketball players move on from their Dog days

By: SAM STEINBERG

Posted: 3/25/08

For former men's basketball players Takais Brown, Mike Mercer and Rashaad Singleton, dwelling on the past achieves nothing. Since leaving the team during the season, the trio of former Georgia basketball players all have managed to move on in their separate directions.

The seven-foot Singleton was center-court when the Bulldogs opened the season. After appearing in 10 games, averaging 2.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, Singleton made a personal decision to leave the team that went on to win the SEC Championship and make its first NCAA tournament since 2002.

"I don't regret what I did. Honestly, I just knew it was something I needed to do," Singleton said. "Do I regret leaving the guys? I mean of course, they are like my family. They are more than just your teammates."

Associate head coach Pete Herrmann tried to stop Singleton from walking away from the team.

"I didn't agree with it. I thought he should be with us, but that is what he decided," Herrmann said.

There is no single reason why the Campbell, Fla., native left the Bulldogs.

"It was not just playing time. It was time for me to move on," Singleton said. "I felt like I needed a fresh start somewhere."

Singleton said he still hangs out with his former teammates, including his roommate Terrance Woodbury, who was named to the All-SEC Tournament team after the Bulldogs' unlikely run.

"I wish him the best in whatever he does, and I know he wishes the best for us," Woodbury said.

Singleton watched from Athens as the Bulldogs pulled of their remarkable SEC Championship run.

"I felt like I was right in the crowd cheering them on," Singleton said. "People are saying it is luck, but it had nothing to do with luck."

Despite leaving the team in early January, Singleton is taking classes at the University and remains on athletic scholarship while receiving academic services provided by the Athletic Association.

As he moves on, Singleton is "weighing his options" between Division-I and Division-II schools for his final season of eligibility. If he transfers to a Division-I institution, he will have to sit out at least one semester before taking the court. If he goes to Division-II he could play immediately.

Singleton is using his former team's recent performance as inspiration for his workouts.

"If anything, it has turned it up," Singleton said.

Brown, who is an ocean away adjusting to his new professional team in Finland, also saw the Bulldogs' run.

"The run really shocked me, but I'm sure I wasn't as shocked as the rest of the teams in the SEC," Brown said through electronic correspondence.

Brown, who would have been a senior leader for the Bulldogs, is playing professionally with the Torpan Pojat. He has averaged 19 points, seven rebounds and 32:28 minutes per game in his first six games with the team.

Brown was Georgia's leading scorer last year. On Oct. 26, before last season began, Brown officially was released for "violation of team rules."

When Brown was suspended he faced a choice: finish his degree and virtually ruin any NBA chances or look for a place overseas. Brown chose the latter and embarked for his professional career.

"I know most people probably think I had bad blood toward the Bulldogs due to the circumstances which I left, but the truth is I've kept in contact with most of the players, and a coach or two since I left," Brown wrote. "In the end, it worked out for the best for myself and Georgia … I really couldn't ask for more."

Mercer, who was dismissed by Georgia in November for being a "disruption," has a fresh start of his own at the University of South Florida.

"I wanted to go somewhere where I could step in and play immediately," Mercer told The Red & Black last November when he transferred.

While things looked bleak for all three several months ago, Mercer, Brown and Singleton all have moved on and are proud of the Georgia team they left behind.