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Georgetown Basketball: April 2005 News Archive

Remembering Jack Walsh 4/28/05

As fans, we often read about the Georgetown basketball alumni that go on to great things in the NBA or in the national spotlight. For others, it is only in their passing that we learn about the contributions that these alumni have made to their school and their local community.

The San Diego Union Tribune has an extensive feature on the death of Jack Walsh (C'56), a three year letterman at Georgetown from 1953 through 1956 who averaged 4.9 points per game and served as team captain his senior year.

Walsh was not just an athlete. A double major in government and science, Walsh was a four year member of the HOYA, and served as editor in chief in the spring and fall of 1955, one of only two Georgetown basketball players ever to reach editor in chief. He was sports director at WGTB, a three year member of the yearbook, ran track for a season, and served as secretary of the Yard Council his senior year. Following Georgetown, he contributed mightily to his community.

According to the newspaper account, Walsh moved to San Diego following graduation and military service. Elected at only 29 to the San Diego City Council, he served five years as a councilman and eight years on the San Diego Board of Supervisors. Walsh was described by a contemporary as a "Republican Jack Kennedy" who supported the city's tremendous growth, but not at the expense of the local community. "He was on the early cusp of making sure development was sensitive to the community's needs," his son said. "He tended to really go out of his way for the little guy."

In 1976, Walsh retired from politics, becoming a local television commentator and businessman. In real estate, Walsh built or acquired 1,200 housing units for low income families during the 1980's. "I just felt there was a need for someone to go into those areas," he told the Union-Tribune in 1999. "My goal was to build clean, safe housing."

Jack Walsh was a year removed from his class' 50th anniversary when he died Tuesday at the age of 71.

Wainwright to DePaul 4/28/05

Jerry Wainwright was named head coach at Big East newcomer DePaul, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and numerous media outlets.

Wainwright, 58, is a Chicago-area native who coached at Richmond from 2002-05, where he was 50-41 in three seasons following eight years at UNC-Wilmington. Each of his last five teams have earned post-season bids.

DePaul officially joins the Big East on July 1.

Capital Classic Recap 4/23/05

Georgetown recruits Marc Egerson and Jessie Sapp were the talk of the local papers following Friday's 32nd annual Capital Classic, held at George Mason University after the loss of Nike's sponsorship made it impractical to rent MCI Center for the event. Sapp and Egerson combined for 35 points as the U.S. All-Stars defeated the Capital All-Stars, 123-97.

I've played with Jessie in the Charm City [Challenge] two weeks ago, and now I've played against him," Egerson told the Washington Post. "It's going to be nice when I get to Georgetown, because I'll have someone I already know, somebody to hang out with. Jessie is a good player, sees the floor really well."

"There's a lot of good talent coming in," Sapp told the Washington Examiner. "Everyone needs to watch out."

Times: Ewing Transfer Not Confirmed 4/22/05

Georgetown officials have not confirmed a report that Indiana forward Patrick Ewing Jr. will transfer to the University, according to this link from the Washington Times.

"If the Hoyas sign him, and if doing so forces their hand on any one of the four aforementioned [recruiting] issues, Thompson will have made the first controversial move of his Georgetown career," writes the Times' Barker Davis.

Ewing: Son To Transfer To Georgetown 4/21/05

A second generation Ewing will transfer to Georgetown, according to a statement from his father Wednesday.

"My son chose Georgetown," said Houston Rockets assistant coach Patrick Ewing (C'85) in an interview with KRIV-TV and reported by the Associated Press.

"I'm excited," Ewing told the TV station. "It's a great place for him to be and not just because I went there. The coaches love him and want him to play for them."

The elder Ewing had long expressed his desire for his son to attend Georgetown, and interest was heightened in Georgetown circles when Patrick Ewing Jr. moved to the Washington area in 2002 to play his senior season at nearby Montrose Christian Academy. In the spring of 2003, the 6-8 Ewing, Jr. chose Indiana instead, starting 14 of 57 games and averaging 3.4 points and 3.7 rebounds over two seasons. Ewing, Jr. announced his intent to transfer from Indiana on March 30.

There has been no confirmation of any transfer from Georgetown officials. If accepted, Ewing, Jr. would be eligible to play beginning in the 2006-07 season, and would become the first transfer from a NCAA Division I program to join the men's basketball team since Pete George transferred from West Point to Georgetown for the 1969-70 season.

DePaul Seeks New Coach 4/18/05

One of the new Big East schools is in search of a new coach, as DePaul lost Dave Leitao to the University of Virginia Sunday. The Chicago Sun-Times posted a list of possible successors at DePaul on Saturday.

Also in the Sun-Times: Chicago player of the year DeAndre Thomas has narrowed his choices to Kansas and Georgetown for a commitment later this spring. "Illinois isn't really showing me any love right now," the 6-8 Thomas told the paper. "I visited Georgetown, and I'm supposed to visit Kansas next week."

Five Questions 4/16/05

Former coach John Thompson, Jr. sat down with the New York Post for a brief feature called "Five Questions With John Thompson".

Asked to look back on his 1985 NCAA finalist team, Thompson replied that " I don't look back at it. I look forward in my life. I don't look back at the Houston game even if we won the national championship. I don't deal with my life in that way. I think there are many things that I want to do in the timespan that I have allotted me. I'm not certain on how much time that is. I'm amused by people who spend their life looking back at things that they have done. That is not what I do."

2005-06 Preview...In April? 4/15/05

The 2004-05 off-season is not even three weeks old, but CBS Sportsline has the first 2005-06 Big East preview.

For Georgetown, "if [Brandon] Bowman returns, this is a 2006 NCAA Tournament team," writes Gregg Doyel. Less sanguine is Doyel's hopes for Pitt, writing "If you've got stock in Pitt basketball, now's the time to sell."

Hoop Club Banquet 4/14/05

A brief recap of the Hoya Hoop Club awards banquet follows at GUHoyas.com . While there was some Internet talk Wednesday about a big announcement pending at the dinner, such was not the case.

Hoyas Visit California Next Season 4/13/05

Schedule talk is already underway in the press, as the San Jose Mercury News notes that Georgetown will travel to San Jose State next season. A date was not announced.

Broadnax Named Coach At Savannah St. 4/9/05

Former Georgetown guard Horace Broadnax has been named head coach at Savannah State, according to a news release and various media reports.

Broadnax, 41, takes over a Savannah team that suffered through an 0-28 season in 2004-05, only the second winless season by a Division I team since 1954-55. Broadnax formerly coached at Bethune Cookman from 1997 to 2002 before resigning to pursue a law practice.

Bowman Declares For NBA Draft 4/8/05

Junior forward Brandon Bowman has declared himself an entry for the 2005 NBA Draft, according to a release at GUHoyas.com.

Bowman, who averaged 15.1 points this season, will not retain an agent, which will allow him to return to collegiate play if he withdraws his name prior to the draft. Bowman, a third-team All-Big East selection, will attend pre-draft camps to test his ability to be selected in either of the two rounds of the draft.

Additional links follow below:

Sweetney Adjusts To NBA 4/12/05

Tuesday's New York Daily News has a feature on Mike Sweetney and his development in the NBA for the New York Knicks.

"He's having struggles he normally would have," assistant coach Mark Aguirre told the Bergen Record, "because this is basically a rookie season, because he didn't really play last year."

Coach Thompson Talks To The HOYA 4/5/05

Coach John Thompson III sat down with The HOYA for a interview in review of the past season.

"I haven't had time to sit back and digest the year as much as I will or I should have because we're moving on," Thompson said. "I think that this group's willingness to improve was something that stuck with us throughout the year, and it's going to have to stay with us. This group is willing to improve."

 

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