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Georgetown Basketball: July 2001 News Archive

Report: No Verbal From California PG 7/22/01

An Internet recruiting publication reported Thursday that Oakland, CA point guard Armando Surratt had given a verbal commitment for Georgetown's 2002-03 season. Not long after Prep West Hoops reported the commitment, Surratt denied the commitment to another online publication.

“I didn't commit to Georgetown,” Surratt told BlueChipHoops.com. “I don't know how that started. I told my coach I wouldn't mind going there, but I never said that I was going there.”

Georgetown has one scholarship available for the high school class of 2002.

Scruggs Cut From Wizards' Camp 7/17/01

The Washington Wizards have cut Lee Scruggs from its summer camp roster, which will likely send the 6-9 forward in search of another training camp as the pre-season nears. The note is found at the bottom of this link to the Washington Post.

NBA: Mourning's Condition Stable 7/16/01

This weekend was the annual "Zo's Summer Groove" fundraiser in Miami, featuring Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Ewing, and a number of NBA and entertainment stars. Here are links to the Miami Herald and Mourning's official web site with details. Over the past five years, the vent has raised over $1.5 million for communities in South Florida.

Speaking of Mourning, a Miami Herald report says that Mourning's kidney condition has neither improved nor deteriorated from that which sidelined him much of last season. "It's kind of discouraging, but at the same time, I know that I feel good right now, and I'm in great condition considering the situation," Mourning said.

Mutombo Featured In Sporting News 7/16/01

The Sporting News has an extensive profile on Dikembe Mutombo and his efforts to construct the Biamba Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa. Recommended reading.

Also of interest in the article: a series of links to other charitable efforts by pro sports stars, including efforts by Alonzo Mourning and Jerome Williams.

NBA Contract Update 7/10/01

Some NBA contract news briefs:

Free agent Jerome Williams has signed a five year, $40.8 million contract with the Toronto Raptors, according to the Toronto Sun. Williams earned $2.75 million with the Raptors last season, according to the paper.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday that Dikembe Mutombo and the NBA's 76ears have agreed in principle on a five year contract paying Mutombo at least $13 million a season. The Philadelphia Daily News reports that a deal on an annual salary of $14.5 million is "close".

And following a one year term in Seattle, 16 year NBA veteran Patrick Ewing may be headed to Florida, according to media reports. The Miami Herald reports that Orlando is interested in signing Ewing to a $4.5 million contract. Miami, with former Knicks coach Pat Riley and Georgetown alumnus Alonzo Mourning, may also be interested.

Thompson: A Rising Star 7/7/01

The rising star of assistant coach Ronny Thompson is profiled in this link from The Sporting News. Columnist Mike DeCourcy evaluates the efforts of Craig Esherick and Ronny Thompson in returning Georgetown among national recruiting circles.

"You've got to be yourself," said Thompson. "You can't try to be something you're not. You can't try to duplicate something you saw somebody else do. And you have to be honest. You don't start off lying to parents and to kids coaches, because eventually it will come full circle."

"I knew Ronny would be a great recruiter, and I know he'll be a heck of a head coach some day," said Esherick.

Townes' Summer Travels 7/7/01

One of Georgetown's early verbal commitments, Darian Townes (high school class of 2003) is featured in this link to the Washington Post. The rising junior traveled to Brazil for an international AAU tournament and will be in Indianapolis this week at the Nike instructional camp.

Townes is also featured in this article at VirginiaPreps.com

Big East History 7/7/01

Ever wonder how the Big East grew as it did, where all those expansion schools came from, or how Rutgers actually turned down the Big East in 1979? Syracuse AD Jake Crouthamel, one of the four founders of the conference, offers his thoughts on the first two decades of the conference in this link to the Syracuse athletics site. Recommended reading.

Also on the site: a review of the history of Manley Field House. Included is a quote from a dejected student in 1980 who, in the wake of Georgetown's 52-50 win to close the building, asked "What am I going to tell my kids? We lost the last game."

Southern Illinois Passes On Georgetown Game 7/7/01

As many as six non-conference opponents are yet to be announced for Georgetown's 2001-02 schedule, but according to a student newspaper at Southern Illinois University, SIU won't be among them.

The SIU Daily Egyptian reported this week that the Salukis, from the Missouri Valley Conference, chose to play George Mason over Georgetown in a non-conference series beginning this year.

High School: Pressure To Turn Pro? 7/2/01

The Washington Post discusses the new pressures being put on high school athletes to jump directly to the NBA. Among those cited: Patrick Ewing, Jr., son of the Georgetown All-American and a rising junior in Atlanta.

And this interesting quote from Spencer Haywood, who was the first to successfully challenge the NBA's original eligibility rules: "It's all my fault," he told the New York Times. "I started to change my mind when I went around and spoke to a group of [high] schools recently. There were kids telling me they don't need to go to class because they're NBA caliber."

NCAA Investigates Foreign Athletes 7/2/01

The NCAA has contacted sixty of its Division I institutions to inquire further on eligibility for foreign students, particularly those who played on European club teams, according to this NCAA news release.

"As recruiting has increased internationally, so have inequities between domestic and international student-athletes," said NCAA spokesman Bill Saum. "We need to make sure we are addressing domestic and international student-athletes consistently. This is an issue that has been gaining momentum for several years. It's time to address it head-on."

 

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