LINKS: Georgetown May Have Revealed its Starting Four

Plus news of a big recruit visiting in a few weeks

If you’ve been travelling the streets on Washington, DC, perhaps you’ve seen the new Metrobus advertisements featuring Akok Akok, Primo Spears, Brandon Murray, and Qudus Wahab of the Georgetown Hoyas touting that “DC’s College Hoops Team is Back.” Let’s hope so. With less than a week away to the opening game, perhaps Patrick Ewing has revealed these four transfers as focal points for success. Or perhaps, after last year’s 0-19 debacle, the returning players are actually under the bus? (Too soon, too easy. Sorry).

Fans of the Hoyas can certainly rally around these four players as the likely foundation for this season, and likely starters for Game 1. While the location of Dante Harris cannot be currently be verified and the waiver status of Jay Heath is still undetermined, the fifth starting spot is thought to be open to, for example, 6’6” graduate transfer Bryson Mozone, 6’4” guard Jordan Riley (coming off of injury), or 6’6” guard Wayne Bristol, Jr., who spent the bulk of last season only practicing with the team. Feel free to peruse the roster and suggest other potential lineups.

Hoyas host Coppin State next Tuesday. Be sure to grab your free tickets for the upcoming games.

Here are the links:

68 REASONS TO BE EXCITED FOR THE 2022-23 COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON | FOX Sports (John Fanta)

62. Will Georgetown get off the mat and bounce back?

After a winless season in the Big East, the Hoyas had a massive roster overhaul and staff changes in the offseason. LSU transfer Brandon Murray and Maryland transfer Qudus Wahab — in his second stint with the Hoyas — will be key. It’s a big year for Patrick Ewing to get this program back on track.

Preseason Preview 2022 | Thompson’s Towel

It has now been almost two years since the Hoyas found themselves dancing in March after their miracle run at Madison Square Garden. Since then, we’ve experienced the worst season in modern program history. We’ve seen a full roster’s worth of departures and have not seen a victory since the 2021 calendar year. It has been a rough stretch for the once iconic program, but that all changes now.

When the Hoyas tip off against Coppin State on November 8th, things will look different. As Coach Patrick Ewing enters his sixth year as Head Coach, he’s bringing along an entirely revamped coaching staff and a team consisting of ten newcomers, headlined by LSU star Brandon Murray and prodigal son Qudus Wahab. But as Drake’s “Started From the Bottom” continues to ring out from the top floors of the Thompson Athletic Center, one thing is for certain: it is good to be back.

Ex-UConn forward Akok Akok looking to help Georgetown recover from brutal 0-19 Big East season | Zagsblog

“Everybody wants to get their feet wet and get their first game under their belts so I’m very excited, everybody’s very excited,” the 6-foot-9 forward said this week at Georgetown’s media day. “I can’t wait to put a Georgetown uniform on and represent the right way” …

“He’s been working extremely hard, he’s very coachable,” Ewing said. “He’s another one that I expect great things out of, his talent, his ability to block shots, his ability to shoot.

“And just his effort, his effort has been over the top for us.”

College basketball expert predictions: First coaching change? | The Athletic

Not sure anyone will pull the rug out quite like college football has this season, but I’m not sure if the Georgetown/Patrick Ewing experiment will go beyond this season… [Dana O’Neil]

What about Patrick Ewing? It is hard to fathom Georgetown brass cutting their legend loose midseason, but after a close-run decision to retain him last spring, if the Hoyas have a disastrous start… [Eamonn Brennan]

Ranking Every Team in Men’s College Basketball, From UNC (No. 1) to Hartford (No. 363) | SI

It could be another long year for Patrick Ewing and Georgetown (No. 102), which did not win a single Big East game in 2020–21. Still, an intriguing influx of transfers—including LSU guard Brandon Murray—offers some optimism when the only way to go is up. Grand Canyon (No. 103) has found success under Bryce Drew, and with Jovan Blacksher Jr. back the Antelopes will be a worthy challenger in the WAC. Portland (No. 107) had one of the country’s largest turnarounds last season as Shantay Legans took over, and the Pilots will look to further climb the WCC standings after retaining their top seven scorers.

Class of 2024 four-star Jahki Howard set to take official visit to Georgetown; announce college commitment Nov. 20th | Zagsblog

Jahki Howard, a four-star forward in the class of 2024, will take his first official visit to Georgetown on November 13th and is set to announce his college commitment a week later.

“Family is a big thing to me when it comes to college, everything,” Howard said. “Whatever school I feel like is going to be the home and a family for me is where I’m going to go. Family is everything. My community is everything. Whatever school has the biggest community and the biggest family type of vibe is where I belong” …

Georgetown is the current consensus favorite in Howard’s recruitment.

Tulane transfer Collin Holloway said he chose school because he wants to play in NCAA tourney | NOLA

“I’ve been watching Jalen [Cook], and I saw they needed a few more pieces and I could help out,” Holloway said. “We have a really good roster. I played against some really good teams in the Big East last year, and I honestly think this team has a legit chance of not only getting to the tournament but winning games in the tournament. I can’t wait to see how we play” …

“They have three dudes that were all-conference and can score,” Holloway said. “I want to kind of do it all— help with scoring, rebound and play defense.”