Georgetown Basketball: July 2002 News Archive

• Gen. Jones Hosts Basketball Reunion
  
• Duke Game Announced For Jan. 8
  
• ESPN Chats With RBB
  
• Arena To Retain MCI Name...For Now
  
• Exempted Tournaments In Danger?
  
• Thompson Discusses International Players
  
• Mourning Saluted
  
• GU #40 in Merchandising
  
• Coach Ewing
  
• Sweetney Considered For Wooden Award
  
• Schedule Update
  
• Summer Depth Chart
  
• Cook Enrolls At Georgetown
  
• Georgetown Release On Thomas Transfer
  
• Smith Hosts Basketball Exhibition
  

Gen. Jones Hosts Basketball Reunion

7/31/02

Over 65 members of the Georgetown basketball community were honored at a reception July 27 hosted by basketball alumnus Gen. James Jones (FS' 66), according to GUHoyas.com. Players from the classes of 1942 through 2001 were in attendance.

And congratulations to Gen. Jones for having been recently named Supreme Allied Commander for NATO, a post once held by Dwight Eisenhower. Jones is the first Marine named to the post.

Duke Game Announced For Jan. 8

7/28/02

The Georgetown-Duke game has been announced for January 8, according to the Durham Herald-Sun. The game will be the start of a home and home series, the with Blue Devils returning to Washington in the 2003-04 season.

And in case you're wondering, January 8 is not over the Christmas break in Durham, but it's the start of the spring semester, so the seats at Cameron Indoor Stadium will be more than filled by its students.

ESPN Chats With RBB

7/26/02

2001 graduate Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje participated in an online chat via ESPN.com. Check the link for Ruben's thoughts on the Portland Trail Blazers, his first year in the NBA, and how he thinks Wesley Wilson and Mike Sweetney will do this year.

Arena To Retain MCI Name...For Now

7/23/02

Despite the bankruptcy of its parent company WorldCom, MCI's name will remain on the downtown Washington arena, according to the Washington Times.

"As of right now, WorldCom is current on its payments, and the name of the building is MCI Center," said an arena spokeswoman.

Should WorldCom default on future payments, Washington Sports & Entertainment would have the right to seek a new naming rights partner.

Exempted Tournaments In Danger?

7/18/02

A federal judge has ruled for the NCAA in restricting teams from appearing in exempted tournaments, according to ESPN.com. This upholds the rule that teams can play in only two exempted tournaments over a four year period. Only six of 28 tournaments have been filled to date in anticipation of the ruling, said the article.

Georgetown played in exempted tournaments in 2000 and 2001, including the John Thompson Classic, which may now be at risk to find opponents. The Albuquerque Tribune reported that New Mexico could have hosted the tournament this year with an exemption, but the Lobos have since released their schedule without the tournament or Georgetown on the calendar.

Thompson Discusses International Players

7/18/02

Former coach John Thompson weighed in on the subject of the increasing role of international players and the NBA, according to the Charlotte Observer.

"A lot of this is the result of the complacency and laziness of American players," Thompson said. "Some kids work hard and do what they are supposed to do, but a lot of them have sugar plums in their head about making a lot of money and going to the NBA."

Another Thompson thought: "A kid bobbles from his high school coach to his AAU coach to his college coach. There's not a coordinated effort that programs the kid right on through the system, and that ultimately is going to adversely affect his development."

Mourning Saluted

7/18/02

Alonzo Mourning has been honored by the Sporting News as one of its annual "Good Guys In Sports" for his work with at-risk children in the Miami area.

"There are a lot of young people out there who, if given the chance, will have successful lives," said Mourning. "You can have an impact not just through dollars, but also through giving love and comfort to kids. I know a little love went a long way with me. I am trying to use myself and other people to help the less fortunate, especially the young ones."

Three other Georgetown alumni were also nominated for the award: Dikembe Mutombo, Jerome Williams, and Jahidi White.

GU #40 in Merchandising

7/16/02

Georgetown finished 40th in a list of the top universities for licensed sports clothing during the 2001-02 academic year, according to the Collegiate Licensing Company, the main licensing arm for most NCAA universities.

The Hoyas' 40th place finish was down from 38th in 2001. Georgetown is the only school in the top 50 playing football below Division I-A, and is one of only six private schools in a merchandise market now dominated by large, state-supported institutions. Among Big East schools, Georgetown finished fourth behind Miami (13th), Connecticut (33rd) and Syracuse (35th). (Notre Dame licenses its merchandising independently and is not on the list.)

In 1990-91, Georgetown finished first among all schools in licensed merchandise.

Coach Ewing?

7/12/02

Entering what could be his final season in the NBA, Patrick Ewing is considering a move into coaching, according to the Orlando Sentinel. According to the article, Ewing has talked with two NBA clubs about an assistant coaching position should he retire.

Sweetney Considered For Wooden Award

7/11/02

Junior Mike Sweetney is listed among the top 50 players in the nation in contention for the John Wooden Award, according to columnist Frank Burlison. The official Wooden Award list follows next month, with the award presented next spring.

Schedule Update

7/9/02

The official UCLA web site has posted its 2002-03 schedule, with a Saturday game at Georgetown on February 8, 2003. It is the second opponent to announce a specific date for a game with the Hoyas.

Last week, Towson University announced a November 30 game at Georgetown, according to the Tigers' 2002-03 summer basketball preview.

Here's a list of games discussed in the press to date:

 

Summer Depth Chart

7/5/02

A number of early pre-season polls have surfaced in the last week, including a top 50 poll at ESPN.com. Georgetown is nowhere to be found on that top 50.

Georgetown answers these polls with a story at GUHoyas.com. The feature briefly discusses many of the higher profile non-conference games (Duke, UCLA, Virginia) this season, without discussing other as-yet-unannounced games. As it currently stands, here's an unofficial depth chart for the 2002-03 Hoyas. The GUHoyas.com article did not mention junior Vince Bartozzi, who could be a walk-on at guard this year.

 

Cook Enrolls At Georgetown

7/3/02

Freshman recruit Ashanti Cook has enrolled at the University, according to a release at GUHoyas.com.

The 6-2 Cook originally signed with New Mexico but was granted a release following the departure of UNM coach Fran Fraschilla. Pursuant to National Letter of Intent (NLI) rules, Cook is required to sit one year unless the NLI Steering Committee rules otherwise.

"He sort of popped into our lap, so we were lucky," Georgetown Coach Craig Esherick told the Washington Post. "He was one of" the better point guards in California, and that's saying something."

In addition to Cook, Coach Esherick also announced the addition of freshman walk-on Amadou Kilkenny-Diaw, a 6-8 forward from St. Alban's School in Northwest Washington. Kilkenny-Diaw, a National Merit Scholar at St. Alban's, averaged 11 points and eight rebounds per game and also ran track at St. Alban's.

Georgetown Release On Thomas Transfer

7/3/02

The press release above also marks the first public comment by the coaching staff on the transfer of Harvey Thomas last month.

“I should also point out that Harvey Thomas and I have decided that he would be better served spending some time at another school, " Esherick said.

Smith Hosts Basketball Exhibition

7/3/02

Former Georgetown All-American Charles Smith (College '89) is hosting a local fundraiser Wednesday night at McDonough Arena for Youth Advocate Programs in the Washington Area. Here's a report on the event from GUHoyas.com.

The event features an exhibition between New York's Rucker Park All Stars vs. the "D.C. Legends". Former Georgetown players Victor Page and Lonnie Harrell have seen action with the Legends, along with local favorites Curt Smith, Pep Tyson, and Greg Jones.

"Most of the time when you hear about athletes,” says Smith, “you hear something negative. This is an opportunity to do something positive, to give back to the community and help at-risk youth."

Tickets are $10 at the door, $5 for children. If you're in the area, please support this fundraiser.

 

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