5-star Ashton Hagans, a Georgia Tech target, commits to UGA

Ashton Hagans of Newton High, shown here playing for the Game Elite AAU team this past summer, has committed to Georgia.

Ashton Hagans of Newton High, shown here playing for the Game Elite AAU team this past summer, has committed to Georgia.

Newton High point guard Ashton Hagans, the No. 1 junior in the state of Georgia (ESPN) and a prospect whom Georgia Tech has pursued, announced his commitment to Georgia on Thursday.

The five-star prospect and one-and-done candidate was being recruited by North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas, among many others. Tech seemed to be in the mix; Hagans attended the Yellow Jackets’ exhibition game against Georgia State in October.

Tech’s recruitment of Hagans may have been hurt by the continued absence of assistant coach Darryl LaBarrie, who was the primary recruiter for Hagans. LaBarrie was placed on administrative paid leave November 22 as the NCAA and the school investigated an allegation of an NCAA rules violation.