College basketball countdown: No. 64 Georgia State

Scott Gleeson | USA TODAY Sports

The first word: Coach Ron Hunter remembered watching Ryan Harrow dominate on the Georgia high school scene when the scoring point guard with was a "legend" as the state's Gatorade Player of the Year. Now, Hunter just wants to see Harrow get back to square one and rekindle his passion.

That was the big and easy recruiting pitch for Harrow, who transferred from Kentucky after an up-and-down year as the starting point guard for the Wildcats. Harrow, who had transferred from N.C. State to Kentucky in 2011, chose Georgia State as his third school and was granted immediate eligibility from the NCAA on a hardship waiver to be closer to family, as his dad's health is poor. Harrow grew up in nearby Marietta, Ga.

Harrow (9.9 points per game last season) comes to Atlanta during a transitioning and thriving time for the program, as the Panthers move from the CAA to the Sun Belt Conference this season. Last season, Hunter directed GSU to 15 wins with nine newcomers and one lone senior. With Harrow and a talented core back, this is the season for everything to come together and the team to tap its great potential.

2012-13 in review: 15-16 overall, 10-8 (Colonial Athletic Association).

Path to the Dance: Even though the Panthers are poised for a big year, winning the Sun Belt tournament is vital for the coveted NCAA tournament bid. There they'll have to fend off potent Arkansas State and Western Kentucky teams that won't welcome the Panthers to their new league with open arms.

Star watch: Although Harrow's immediate eligibility draws much of the attention, the best player on the team is returning freshman sensation R.J. Hunter, the coach's son. Hunter was one of just three freshmen in the country to average 17 points and five rebounds per game. His 38-point outburst against Old Dominion is proof of his takeover abilities. Also returning is veteran point guard Devonta White, who averaged 14.8 points and 3.9 assists per game last season. Virginia Tech transfer Manny Atkins (14.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg) also comes back as capable double-double producer. USC transfer Curtis Washington, a 6-9 big man, will anchor the paint.

Coach's Corner: "The hardest part with the whole coach/dad relationship with R.J. is when I'm not coaching. If he gets mad at me, his mother doesn't cook for me. ... I think I'll get a lot more meals this season." — GSU coach Ron Hunter

Team strength/weakness: The team's backcourt should be a strength based on the talented pieces, but three scoring guards can often lead to more problems than productivity. Hunter admits that's his biggest challenge — having top players "leave their egos at the door" — but says he's seen "great chemistry" between all the guards. Last season sharing the ball was an obvious weakness, as the Panthers ranked 256th nationally in assists per game. But if the three-headed monster in the backcourt works as planned, Sun Belt foes will struggle to keep pace.

X-Factor: Motivation. Last year, the team wasn't eligible to play in a postseason league tournament, which has driven the team to take full advantage of the conference tournament. That's when the team will need to be most ready ... and hungry.

Dance at a Glance: Georgia State last made the NCAA tournament in 2001, upsetting Wisconsin in the first round before falling to eventual-champion Maryland by 19 points in the second. The Panthers' only other previous appearance was in 1991, a first round blowout loss to Arkansas.

Basics: Georgia State is located in Atlanta, Ga., and the Panthers play in the GSU Sports Arena, built in 1973. The team's court is named after coach Charles "Lefty" Driesell.

Trivia: Rapper Ludacris is a Georgia State alum.

About this post: Every weekday, one of the 68 teams in USA TODAY Sports' projected NCAA tournament field will be dissected. The final bracket will be revealed in November. Read No. 68, No. 67, No. 66 and No. 65.

Scott Gleeson, a national college basketball writer/producer for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.