The Georgetown men’s basketball team is rebounding from a tumultuous year, during which they lost six of 14 players on their roster to graduation, transfer or ineligibility. Only two of last season’s starters will be returning this year-senior guard Gerald Riley and sophomore forward Brandon Bowman. These losses, compounded by turnover in the coaching staff, mark a formidable challenge for the 2003-4 team.
Senior starting center Wesley Wilson began the exodus last year, leaving mid-season amid a swarm of rumors. The reasons for his departure still remain unclear, but it was a significant loss-during the 2001-2 season, Wilson had four double-doubles, led the team with 53 blocks and was the third leading scorer, averaging 12 points a game. In the 17 games Wilson started last season, he averaged 6.6 points and 4.9 rebounds.
Two players, forward Victor Samnick and guard Trenton Hillier, graduated in May. After Wilson’s departure, team captain Samnick moved into a starting role for the Hoyas, where he blossomed into the second leading rebounder on the team. Hillier walked on to the team for four years.
Perhaps most devastating, the team lost its two most talented guards when sophomore starter Tony Bethel transferred to North Carolina State and sophomore Drew Hall transferred to Gonzaga.
Bethel was second only to star junior power forward Mike Sweetney in minutes played last year, averaging 31.4 minutes a game. He was the team’s third leading scorer, averaging 10.8 points a game, led the Hoyas in assists, averaging 3.6 a game, and was second in steals. He started 52 of 58 games in his Georgetown career.
Hall saw playing time in every game last season and was second to Bethel in assists, averaging 2.9 a game.
After much anticipation, Sweetney decided to forgo his senior year at Georgetown and enter the NBA Draft, where he was selected as the ninth overall pick by the New York Knicks. The former team captain was the seventh-leading scorer in Georgetown history, with 1,750 points.
Last season, Sweetney led the team in scoring, averaging 22.8 points a game, rebounding, averaging 10.4 a game, and blocks, averaging 3.2 a game. He also had the most free throws, with 248, and the highest field goal percentage, .547. Sweetney was the only player in the nation to rank in the top 20 in both scoring and rebounding. He was named to the All-Big East first team and earned an AP All-American Honorable Mention for his performance.
In addition to losing these six key players, the Hoyas also weathered some drama regarding the status of other players and recruits. Georgetown’s No. 1 recruit, Darian Townes, a 6-foot-10 center from Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C., decided to attend a year of prep school at Hargrave Military Academy in order to gain eligibility. However, he is still committed to Georgetown for the 2004-2005 season.
Adding to the team’s unrest over the summer, Bowman’s status was in question. The Washington Post quoted Bowman’s father saying that his son would be leaving Georgetown. A week later, however, the Post reported that he would be staying with the Hoyas.
To help offset their losses, the Hoyas will be picking up three recruits this year.
First-year guards Matt Causey from Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Ga. and Rayshawn Reed from Inglewood High School in Inglewood, Ca., will be joining the team, along with first-year forward Sead Dizdarevic from Serbia. First-year forward Kenny Izzo will be walking on to the team.
Additionally, guard Tyler Crawford, a high school senior at Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, Va. has verbally committed to play for Georgetown in 2004-5. Who will join him remains to be seen.
