UGA basketball hire has connection to ESPN anchor, football assistant

Wade Mason, center, during a game at Stephen F. Austin where he has served as an assistant coach the last five seasons. Mason is Georgia's new basketball assistant coach.

Georgia officially announced the hire of a new assistant basketball coach on Thursday, prompting two fellow New Orleans natives to go on social media to celebrate Wade Mason’s move.

ESPN SportsCenter anchor Stan Verrett and Georgia wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton took to Twitter to recognize Mason, who spent the past five seasons on the Stephen F. Austin staff.

“Proud of you, man!” Verrett wrote.

“Purple Knights in the building! Welcome brother @wmason1409!!! #GoDawgs,” Hankton said.