Georgia's loss could be the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team's gain.

Cady Lalanne, a 6-foot-8 big man from Haiti, who went to high school in Orlando, was among the Minutemen's top recruiting targets last year before he signed to play at Georgia.

But Bulldog coach Mark Fox announced Friday that Lalanne hadn't reached NCAA eligibility standards and therefore would not be enrolling at Georgia.

"I am extremely disappointed for Cady," Fox said in a statement. "I truly feel for him because he is a great young man."

The Southeastern Conference doesn't allow its schools to accept nonqualifiers, who are required to sit out their freshman season before becoming eligible.

Lalanne had chosen Georgia over UMass, Mississippi and Virginia Commonwealth. UMass is the only one of those schools that accepts nonqualifiers. The Minutemen are expected to pursue Lalanne, who would be required to pay his own way for his first season in college and wouldn't be eligible to play or practice.

ScoutHoops.com had Lalane with renewed interest in the Minutemen as well. He'd likely choose among UMass, another school that takes nonqualifiers or a junior college.

Because Lalanne signed a letter of intent to play at Georgia, he wouldn't be allowed to sign another. He'd need to apply to UMass. If he were accepted, he'd be officially added to the program when he first enrolled in classes.

Lalanne would give the Minutemen a deep class that would begin play in the 2011-12 season. He'd join New Hampshire combo guard Jordan Laguerre, who'll be a true freshman, and Hofstra transfer point guard Chaz Williams.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com.