Sports Information
Marcus Derrickson
Forward, 6-7, 250 lbs
Bowie, MD
Derrickson comes toenters the Hilltop with high expectations. A complete and dynamic forward, Derrickson figures to be ready to contribute immediately, adding another talented player to the Hoyas’ offense. Both Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III and sophomore forward Isaac Copeland referred to Derrickson as the best shooter on the team next to DSR, lauding his scoring and rebounding ability during the Hoyas’ trip to Italy this summer.
Look for Derrickson to immediately compete for a starting job this season, complementing one of the more traditional big men in either freshman Jessie Govan or senior Bradley Hayes. His size and scoring abilitytalent should provide much- needed spacing for a team that finished 156th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage last year.
While his scoring will be a huge factor, Derrickson will also be leaned on heavily to rebound and defend in the post, helping to fill the void left by departing seniors Joshua Smith and Mikael Hopkins. His performance and development only became more important following the news that sophomore forward Akoy Agau, a transfer from Louisville, will miss the season with a torn ACL.
Sports Information
Kaleb Johnson
Guard, 6-8, 205 lbs
South Hill, VA
It’s always tough to replace a player like Jabril Trawick. Trawick, who graduated last year, gave the Hoyas a competitive edge and toughness reminiscent of the brand of bruising Hoyas basketball played by the likes of Ewing, Mourning, and Mutombo. While it’s early to crown the next tone-setter for this year’s Hoyas, comparisons are already being drawn between Trawick and incoming freshman combo guard/forward Kaleb Johnson.
“Kaleb brings a lot of things to the table that Jabril did… He’s got a hardness, a toughness,” said Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III.
Johnson has already been called one of the Hoyas’ best perimeter defenders. Although still raw, Johnson’s athleticism and tenacity should earn him more minutes as the season progresses and he becomes more comfortable in the Hoya’s offense.
The learning curve will be steep, but Johnson’s size and ability to defend three to four positions on the court will prove valuable against many of the talented teams on the Hoyas’ schedule early in the season. While JTIII does have a backlog at the wing position, don’t be surprised if Johnson cracks the rotation with his defensive energy and hustle. (https://thecenturionreport.com)
Sports Information
Akoy Agau
Forward, 6-8, 235 lbs
Omaha, NE
Disappointment struck early this year for sophomore Akoy Agau, who will miss the upcoming season with a torn ACL. Agau transferred to Georgetown from Louisville midway through the 2014-15 season, in hopes of seeing more minutes in a less crowded frontcourt rotation. However, due to NCAA transfer regulations, he has not yet seen time on the court for Georgetown, and wouldn’t have even been eligible to play for the first semester of this year. Still, Agau figured to be a boost for the Hoyas in the second semester before his injury.
While his offensive abilities lack polish, the Hoyas will miss Agau’s defensive physicality, especially his shot-blocking ability, and his work on the glass – akin to a mix of departing seniors Aaron Bowen and Mikael Hopkins.
While Agau’s injury is clearly a loss for the team, Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III isn’t worried that this will leave a gaping hole in the rotation.
“I don’t want to say it’s not a loss, because it is, but we have depth there” Thompson said.
Although touted as a forward, it iss unclear whether Agau would have spent more time at the 4 or the 5, but the team is deep enough in bigs that either way the position will be covered. Hoya fans should expect Agau to spend this season rehabbing and recovering, and to make his debut for Georgetown in the 2016-17 season.
Men’s Basketball Headshots
Jessie Govan
Center, 6-10, 270 lbs
Queens Village, NY
The departure of former center Joshua Smith is a huge loss for the Hoyas, both literally and figuratively. The Hoyas relied heavily on his size and abilities in the low post to generate points and spread defenses to create open shots elsewhere.
Listed at 6’ 10”, 270 pounds, freshman center Jessie Govan looks like the likely plug to fill the hole left by Smith’s departure. Govan has the post abilities to fill Smith’s scoring role, but he is far more versatile in other areas.
Despite his imposing stature, Smith was a notoriously poor rebounder, so look for Govan to provide a much needed boost on the boards for the Hoyas this season. Govan can also be a threat with a midrange jump shot and from behind the arc, two things that Smith certainly didn’t have in his arsenal.
“He’s a good passer. He can make threes, not that that’s going to be his thing, but you’re going to have to play him past three feet, which may be different for us” said Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III.
Govan will likely only compete for playing time with the only other center on the team, senior Bradley Hayes. In past seasons, Hayes has played limited minutes behind Josh Smith and Mikael Hopkins, so Govan will likely have an opportunity to play significant minutes fairly quickly. Overall, Govan’s versatility in a position that is fairly shallow for Georgetown figures to make him an important factor for the Hoyas this season.
