Georgia's Kirby Smart, Tom Crean to talk on Tuesday in Savannah

University of Georgia football coach Kirby Smart and men's basketball coach Tom Crean took time to talk Monday morning on the phone about their upcoming visit to Savannah as well as a few other topics of local interest.

Smart and Crean are visiting Savannah Station in downtown Savannah on Tuesday as part of the UGA Coaches Caravan presented annually by the Georgia Bulldog Club. The event is sold out.

“I think the biggest thing is that it’s a chance for people to get to know me,” Crean, who was hired by Georgia on March 15, said during a phone interview. “It’s a chance to let them know how we are trying to build our program and lay the foundation of our program inside of what is already here (in the athletic department).”

Since being hired by Georgia, Crean has created some buzz on the recruiting trail including the recent commitment of three-star guard Tye Fagan of Thomaston's Upson-Lee High to the class of 2019 as well as retaining the already signed Class of 2018 forward Amanze Ngumezi of Savannah's Johnson High.

Ngumezi, who originally signed on to be a Bulldog when Mark Fox was the head coach, is a key part of Crean’s early vision for the Bulldogs, the coach said.

“No question about it, we are very fortunate that (Ngumezi) signed with Georgia, and very fortunate that he decided to stay with Georgia when we came,” Crean said. “I look at him like that is a no-brainer, no question. He fits here in so many different ways and what I’ve been impressed with in just two short months of knowing him, is his desire to improve.”

For Smart, the trip to Savannah is another chance to greet the fans of the school he once played for.

“It’s another opportunity for us to get out there and greet Bulldog Nation,” Smart said. “It’s a chance to say hello to everybody and drum up the spirits of everybody before the upcoming season.”

After the team went 8-5 in his first season in 2016, Smart led the Bulldogs to a 13-2 record last season and a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship game, where they fell to Alabama in overtime. Smart was asked how his plan to recruit the state of Georgia better than his predecessors was working so far.

“It’s different year to year because I think more kids from the state of Georgia are transient than anywhere else in the country,” Smart said. “I don’t think you can ever completely put a fence around Georgia because there’s no fence big enough to put around this state.”

Liberty County product Richard LeCounte, who signed on to play under Smart after previously considering the Bulldogs under former coach Mark Richt, saw playing time last season as a true freshman. Smart said LeCounte will have ans opportunity to shine this season in the Bulldog secondary.

“Richard is a really bright kid and he’s fun to be around,” Smart said. “He’s electric and he’s a guy that comes out with a lot of energy to every single practice. We’re excited for what he has grown into and he’s certainly a guy who we can count on to play a larger role next year on the team.”