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Georgetown Basketball: July 2006 News Archive

Hoop Club Posts Record Year 7/26/06

The Hoya Hoop Club posted new records in donors and dollars raised in 2005-06, part of a record breaking year in giving for Georgetown Athletics as reported in this link from GUHoyas.com.

The 19 support clubs under Hoyas Unlimited raised $2,257,495 during the fiscal year from 4,002 donors. A third of that total was raised from the Hoya Hoop Club, the official support group for men's basketball, raising $857,472.69 from 1,329 donors, both records.

The totals reflect an ongoing increase in the membership begun under former club president Michael Karam (C'72, L'76) and now in full force behind current president Al Bozzo (B'85). Donor totals reflect the highest number in the Hoop Club in over 20 years.

The leading support clubs by dollars raised include: 1) men's basketball, 2) football, 3) rowing, 4) men's lacrosse, and 5) baseball.

Your 2006-07 gift to the Hoop Club, large or small, is a vote--a vote for a strong and vibrant future of the men's basketball program as it enters its second century. For a school of Georgetown's size and ongoing financial constraints, a major college basketball program is a major commitment. For Georgetown to further elevate the program, it needs to see a visible show of support from its alumni and fan constituency. The Hoya Hoop Club represents the most visible such constituency within University Advancement and the overall community.

The Hoop Club mission statement reads as follows:

  • "Provide financial support to the Georgetown University Men's Basketball Program in order to assist the Program in being a top-tier Division I basketball program;
  • "Provide a conduit through which the Program can interface with Georgetown alumni and other supporters of the Program in a manner that provides for a free and regular exchange of views and information;"
  • "Provide events, programs, and services through which members of the Club can interact with one another;
  • "Provide a sounding board, give counsel, and advise the athletic director and coaching staff on the perception of the Program among its fan base;
  • "Increase the size of the Program's fan base, particularly among Georgetown alumni (both in the Washington, D. C. area and across the country);
  • "Create the best possible "home court" advantage while upholding the ideals of good sportsmanship;"
  • "Foster a continuation of the Georgetown tradition of scholar athletes."

"Without resources from the Hoop Club, Georgetown Basketball would not be able to compete," said Coach Thompson in a quote on the Hoop Club web pages. "For Georgetown to achieve our desired level of excellence, it will require hard work on all sides by coaches, players, and supporters. As we move forward in the new Big East, it is essential that we have your support."

Take note of the easy ways listed on GUHoyas.com to make a gift. Please consider a gift to give Georgetown Basketball an even more powerful support network within the University community next season. Following this record breaking year, the Hoya Hoop Club is poised for even greater goals, and your support will make a difference.

Jackson Honored Among Top 100 List 7/26/06

Former Georgetown guard Michael Jackson (C'86) was recently cited by the Reston Connection in its review of the 100 greatest athletes in Northern Virginia's history.

Jackson played at Reston's South Lakes HS from 1979 through 1982. "He was a phenomenal scorer,” said coach Wendell Byrd. “You only saw a glimpse of it in college because they had [Patrick] Ewing and [David] Wingate. He could rack up some points very quickly on you.”

"He was somebody from Reston that went to South Lakes who went on to Georgetown and eventually the NBA," said former South Lakes HS alumnus Grant Hill. "To have somebody you knew from high school, it was good to see. It was a good example."

Cook Signs With Bundesliga 7/25/06

Former Georgetown guard Ashanti Cook (C'06) has signed a contract to play overseas with Braunschweig of the Bundesliga (German League) per this link to GUHoyas.com

An additional link to the official team release on Cook's signing is available in German.

Schedule Update 7/22/06

Towson University has announced a Dec. 20 game at Georgetown, according to its official web site.

The Tigers (12-16, 8-10 Colonial) finished with a 221 in the 2005-06 RPI.

Georgetown holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time basketball series between the schools, sweeping a pair of games at MCI Center in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.

NBA: Harrington Signed By Charlotte 7/20/06

Former Georgetown center Othella Harrington (C'96) was signed to a free agent contract by the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.

"Othella complements our team well and is a veteran player who can serve as a mentor to our younger players in the frontcourt,” said head coach Bernie Bickerstaff in a news release. “He brings the toughness that we have displayed in our first two seasons and he understands his role in the team concept on both ends of the floor.”

Harrington was cut from the Chicago Bulls on July 7.

Schedule Update 7/17/06

The latest addition to the schedule--a home game with Oregon, per the Ducks' web site.

NBA: Mourning Back In 06-07 7/16/06

Despite some rumors to the contrary, Alonzo Mourning (C'92) announced he will return to the Miami Heat in 2006-07.

"Because of the [Alonzo Mourning Charities] Foundation, sponsors, the fans and this community, the energy you all have just given us over the years to help us to get this championship moment, providing the passion, the love...I factored in all of those things and I have decided I will play another year in Miami," Mourning told a sold out crowd at the gala dinner of Zo's Summer Groove, a major fundraising event in the Miami area each year since 1997. The event has raised more than $5 million for local charities since it was founded.

"Big Zo's in good shape," said Miami forward Dorrell Wright earlier last week to ESPN.com. "I think 'Zo could play like five more years, to tell you the truth. Zo's in great shape at his age. I hope he does come back, because he's a good guy, a good teammate and a good voice to have in the locker room."

"I think to him it's a little bit more than just championships," said former coach John Thompson. "I think it's something within himself he has to prove that a person in his situation can keep coming back."

2006-07 Big East Opponents Announced 7/14/06

The Big East Conference has announced its scheduling matrix for the 2006-07 season. The results for Georgetown are listed to the left, above.

The Hoyas will play three teams home and away (Cincinnati, Pitt, and Villanova), with home games only against Connecticut, DePaul, Marquette, Notre Dame, and West Virginia. Georgetown has road only games with Louisville, Rutgers, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Syracuse. Two Big East teams will not be on the schedule: Providence and South Florida.

As far as strength of schedule goes, the home opponents posted a combined 78-50 (.609) conference record versus only a 66-62 mark (.515) for the road opponents and 6-26 (.188) for the teams off the schedule entirely. Each of the four teams that finished higher than Georgetown in the final regular season standings will be at the Verizon (MCI) Center this season.

Athletics Staff Changes 7/14/06

2005-06 was another year of change in the Georgetown athletic department, with turnover among four head coaches (football, volleyball, tennis, men's soccer) as well as a number of staff. The final change of the 2005-06 year was announced at the George Mason athletics web site, where former Hoyas Unlimited director Jennifer Montgomery has been named the director of major gifts at GMU.

"It was important that we find someone of Jennifer's qualifications to fill this position," said GMU athletic director Tom O'Connor. "She has extensive intercollegiate fundraising experience and great success at a major Division I institution."

2007 Recruiting 7/14/06

A reader has passed along this link from HoopsReport.com on some of the leading rising seniors in the 2007 recruiting picture, including Georgetown verbal commit Austin Freeman.

"Georgetown fans should be thrilled about this guy, he is one of the best pure scorers in the game and a man amongst boys at this level," wrote the publication in an earlier article.

DePaul Releases Non-Conf. Schedule 7/13/06

The Washington Capitals have announced its 2006-07 schedule, the first of a three step process that will help finalize the Hoyas' 2006-07 plans. Following the Capitals and Wizards, the Big East will be able to fill in their games, and Georgetown can work on the rest.

With home games at the suburban Allstate Arena, DePaul has no NHL or NBA conflicts, and has already released its 2006-07 non-conference slate. The Blue Demons (12-15 in 2005-06) have announced home games with Kansas, Wake Forest and California, plus an appearance at the Maui Invitational.

"We play in the premier basketball conference in the country and the best way to prepare for that is to attack a challenging non-league schedule and we believe that we've accomplished that again this season," said DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright. "We hope our fans, alumni and students appreciate the opportunity to see our young men compete against the nation’s top programs."

NBA Summer League 7/13/06

Brandon Bowman has wrapped up play in the five game Vegas Summer League for NBA hopefuls. Bowman was limited to just 15 minutes in the five games, scoring four points.

NBA: Harrington Waived By Bulls 7/8/06

The ten year NBA career of center Othella Harrington (C'96) may be at an end after he was waived Friday by the Chicago Bulls, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The 32 year old Harrington was considered expendable after the Bulls signed Ben Wallace earlier in the week. Harrington's averaged dropped from 8.0 points in 2005 to 4.8 in 2006, and his 2007 salary was scheduled to escalate to $3.8 million in the final season of three year contract.

Hibbert Ready For '07 7/8/06

Though Roy Hibbert was never overweight for his size, the 7-2 junior lost 25 pounds this off season and worked to build his strength, writes Andy Katz at ESPN.com.

I got down from 285 to 260, and now I've added muscle to get to 273," Hibbert said. "I feel more agile and can move more. I'm not lumbering around."

As to the secret to the weight loss, Hibbert was direct. "I stopped eating junk food," he said.

Thompson Interview With CHN 7/7/06

The College Hoops Online web site recently spoke with coach John Thompson III for his views on the upcoming season and has posted excerpts from the interview.

"Our strength will obviously be our frontcourt," said Thompson. "Jeff [Green] and Roy [Hibbert] have some good experience and have proven themselves. We will miss the perimeter scoring that departed when Brandon [Bowman], Ashanti [Cook] and Darrel [Owens] graduated. We have some guys who are capable of stepping up and filling that role in the backcourt, but I would say our strength is the frontcourt and our weakness is backcourt."

Thompson also complimented junior Tyler Crawford for his off-court leadership.

"I think the way things are going to shake out this year he will get more of an opportunity to get playing time than he did last year, but he’s definitely someone who sets the tone for the team," Thompson said.

Daniel Slattery, Jr. (1940-2006) 7/6/06

A reader has sent along news of the passing of Dan Slattery (C'62), a three year letterman with the basketball program from 1960 through 1962. A copy of the obituary was posted at the Washington Post.

The 6-5 Slattery was one of a number of basketball players from Gonzaga College High School that enrolled at Georgetown in the late 1950's, owing to the ties with former Gonzaga coaches Tom Nolan and Tom O'Keefe, each of whom became head coach at Georgetown. Slattery averaged a strong 7.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in Tom Nolan's final season as Georgetown coach in 1960. When O'Keefe arrived the following season and instituted a new, up-tempo offense, Slattery's time waned, playing in just 14 games and averaging three points a game behind the likes of 6-7 Bob Sharpenter and 6-5 Paul Tagliabue.

By 1962, Slattery had won back his time and had some big games for a Georgetown team that won more games (14) than any Hoya team since 1952. He was named to the All-Tournament team in the Richmond Invitational, the first in-season tournament won by Georgetown since 1947. Slattery's career high came in a 23 point effort over George Washington, and he finished the 1962 season shooting 43% from the field with a 6.8 point, 5.6 rebound average.

Like many of his basketball contemporaries, Slattery was active with a variety of other campus activities. His 1962 yearbook record notes Slattery's work as a staffer on The HOYA, as well as Ye Domesday Booke, the St. John Berchmann's Society, and the Freshman Advisory Committee. He graduated with a degree in history, went on to law school, and became an attorney in the Washington area.

Memorial contributions may be made c/o the Gonzaga College High School Scholarship Fund, 19 Eye St., N.W., Washington, DC 20001.

Schedule Update 7/5/06

Winston-Salem State University has announced a Dec. 16 game at Georgetown, according to the school's web site. This is the first news release confirming a date and opponent for the Hoyas' 2006-07 season.

WSSU, a Division I newcomer which will play as an independent in 2006-07, will play 22 of its 27 games on the road in order to build its program.

"It's part of what we had to do before getting a conference schedule in the MEAC," said WSSU coach Philip Stitt in this link to the Winston-Salem Journal. "So we're going full-bore into the Division I thing, and it's not going to be easy."

The Rams will field a team with only 8.5 of the 13 allowable scholarships at the Division I level, according to the article.

This will be the first meeting between the schools.

 
 

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