It’s dark and quiet in the lobby of McDonough Gymnasium 15 minutes before the men’s basketball team holds open tryouts for the 2002-03 season. The only sound is the pacing of the six students inside. Every few minutes, someone stops to admire one of the trophy cases.
“Think you’re in shape enough to run up and down the court with these guys?” said one student to Maher Bitar (SFS ‘06).
“Maybe, we’ll see,” said Bitar, a lanky, 6-foot, 160-pound first-year from Montreal, Canada.
Like many other schools around the country, the basketball team holds open tryouts, in the hopes of finding a player that escaped the expanding radar of recruiters, developmental camps and college coaches. While it is unlikely that the team will find the next Mike Sweetney, there is the possibility that someone could walk-on as a role player.
This time last year, Bitar was a shooting guard and a point guard for a AAA travelling team in Canada, the Daw-son Community Blues (in Canada, high school basketball is a lower level of competition than AAA), averaging 15 points and five assists per game. He decided to tryout for the Hoyas because of Georgetown’s basketball tradition.
“It’s Georgetown, that’s why I want to try out,” he said. “It’s Georgetown, one of the biggest basketball schools ever. To have the opportunity, I wouldn’t want to miss that.”
While Bitar conceded that he was a long shot to make the team, he is not without a basketball pedigree. Although he is only 6-foot, Bitar can dunk and reach his wrist over the rim.
“I was always one of he shortest people on the team,” said Bitar. “But I could jump so it helped.”
Also, even though he was not recruited to play in college, when he was in ninth grade perennial high school basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy, Va. offered him a half scholarship to play, but Bitar declined for financial reasons. Three years ago, he was named one of six all-stars for the city of Montreal.
“Since I was 15, I would always play with 25-year-olds,” said Bitar. “That’s how I got better. I played in night leagues against people that played Division I or played Canadian university ball.”
Bitar’s coach for the Dawson Community Blues was Otis Lewis, who has been coaching for 13 years.
“Maher was in the top-20 of all the players I’ve had,” said Lewis. “For the past three years he was with a group of kids where four of 16 got Division I scholarships, but he had the most potential of all of them. He sacrificed basketball for academics; he realized that basketball wasn’t the only thing in life.”
Right before the tryout, Bitar described himself as “tired” and “tight,” but said that was excited just to have the chance.
“I’ve played against a few Canadian players that went to Division I schools, but I’ve never actually practiced with a Division I team or seen a Division I team practice,” said Bitar. “It’s going to be my first time; it’s what you see on TV.”
The tryout, according to Bitar, was a standard basketball practice and lasted only 30 minutes. Head Coach Craig Esherick put the students through a few drills and a scrimmage.
Esherick declined to comment about Bitar or the tryout.
“People took it seriously,” said Bitar. “It seemed pretty official. Some people in there were nervous.”
Bitar was satisfied with how he performed.
“I played OK. I made some stupid mistakes,” he said. I hit four of 10 during the three-point shooting drills. Even if I was really good, it would have been hard to show if I was Division I caliber.”
At the end of the tryout, however, Bitar was informed that he did not make the team, but that did not sour him on the overall experience.
“For me it was just the experience,” he said. “I’m probably not going to get the chance to try out for a big time team any time else in my life. I played on the same court as all these great players. There was a certain mystique about it.”
