BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: GEORGETOWN
April 29, 2009
Commitment ALERT: Jerrelle Benimon, 6'8 F from Fauquier (MD) High School
Georgetown continues to work at adding depth for their 2009-2010 roster to rebound from the disappointing 2008-2009 season amd improve their college basketball odds of returning to the NCAA Tournament in 2009-2010. The latest addition to the Hoyas is somewhat of a surprise as Georgetown Offers, Jerelle Benimon Accepts (Fauquier.com) and commits to the Hoyas.
Projected 2009-2010 Roster:
Seniors: None
Juniors: Austin Freeman (SG), Chris Wright (PG), Nikita Mescheriakov (F), Julian Vaughn (PF)
Sophomores: Jason Clark (G), Henry Sims (BF/C), Greg Monroe (BF)
Freshman: Hollis Thompson (SF), Vee Sanford (G), Jerrelle Benimon (PF)
Early 2010 Commitments: Markel Starks (PG), Nate Lubick
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With just a roster of eight players currently slated for 2008-2009, John Thompson III and his staff have been diligently beating the bushes this spring for additions to their roster. On the strength of an excellent senior season, Vee Sanford went from a mid-major priority to a player with high-major interest. Georgetown won out in the battle for his services as the Hoyas gained the commitment this week. JT III followed that commitment up quickly by adding little-known Jerrelle Benimon to the mix as well. With little exposure outside of his immediate area, mostly because the lack participation in the AAU scene, Benimon wasn't recruited by Division I programs until recent months. Georgetown, Old Dominion and Longwood all offered Benimon with Tulsa, Clemson and Mississippi also showing some interest.
Benimon had been coming to the Georgetown campus alot of late to play with the Hoyas in spring pick-up games and felt he could fit in and help in the Big East.
“At first I was kind of nervous, but I know I can handle my own now,” Benimon told Fauquier.com.
Benimon averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and 1.6 steals per game this past season for coach Wayne Brizzi and the Falcons. He was named Cedar Run District player of the year for the second consecutive season andn was a 4th-team all-Met selection by the Washington Post this past season.
Sanford averaged 22.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.4 assists a game for coach Brandon Salsman this season. The Hoyas' interest in the 6-foot-3 guard began to pick up when Sanford scored 31 points in a District playoff game with Georgetown and other high-major coaches watching. Sanford can score in a variety of ways and will help fill a much-needed void on the Georgetown roster.
Sanford and Benimon join Hollis Thompson as commitments in the class of 2009. Thompson came come across country from De La Salle High School in the Bay Area of California to join the Hoya program last December as he enrolled early. Thompson recently had transferred from Loyola High school in Los Angeles to De La Salle before graduating early to get a head start at his new home with the Hoyas. The 6'6 wing is long and lean at his position and is a player with tremendous upside to grow as he works to put all his natural tools together with a developing skill set.
With the graduation of Jesse Sapp, DaJuan Summers signing with an agent and foregoing his senior season for the professional ranks and Omar Wattad deciding to transfer, the Georgetown roster will be thin and pretty inexperienced once again next season. They did receive good news when Greg Monroe passed up the opportunity of being a near certain lottery pick in the 2009 draft to return for his sophomore season.
Springbook senior forward Jamal Olasewere left quite an impression on observers in leading his team to a state championship by averaging 24.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in the two games on the Comcast Center floor in the Maryland state final four. Coach Thompson was so impressed with the 6-foot-6 forward's efforts against elite 2010 prospect Roscoe Smith that he made it a point to watch more of Olasewere in the finals, showing the Hoyas are interested in the prospect. However, with their decision to offer and accept a commitment from Benimon, it likes like they have moved on from Olasewere.
The Hoyas have also shown spring interest in forwards Latavious Williams, currently attending Life Center Academy (TX), and Roscoe Davis, who is at Laurinnburg (NC) Institute. Williams is a highly touted forward who could try his hand professionally in Europe if he does not achieve a qualifying status for college next year. Davis has been bouncing around of late, but the former DC Assault member is close to members of the Hoyas' staff and if he is qualified for college in the fall, Georgetown could be a possible destination. The Hoyas have also been linked to Florida transfer Allen Chaney who is looking for a new home after playing one year with the Gators.
Skilled power forward Nate Lubick is one of two Georgetown commitment from the class of 2010 as the 6-foot-8 forward from the St. Mark's (MA) School made a verbal pledge to the Hoyas last fall. Playing for his father at St. Mark's and former NBA coach John Carroll with the NE Playaz on the AAU circuit, Lubick has improved rapidly and turned himself into one of the most coveted players in the class of 2010. This past summer he showed the NBE Basketball Report his effecient and versatile offensive game with a strong showing at the Adidas Super 64 in Vegas.
Lubick had made a couple trips to Georgetown already and chose the Hoyas after strongly considering Michigan as well. Virginia and Stanford had also been involved in his recruitment as strong academics played a role in his decision.
Lubick is an athletic player at 6-foot-8 with a quick and accurate shot from the perimeter. His versatility and high basketball IQ will fit in very well with the intricate Georgetown system utilized by John Thompson III.
DC-area guards were flying off the shelves in the class of 2010 as Kendall Marshall has previously committed to North Carolina, Tyler Thornton chose Duke recently and Josh Selby has picked Tennessee. Georgetown Prep point guard Markel Starks joined the fray last fall when the 6'1 guard chooses the Georgetown Hoyas on a campus visit.
It was evident very early last spring in the Boo Williams Review that Starks was headed toward high major status with his tremendous handle and ability to score and distribute from the point guard position for the DC Blue Devils. Playing his high school ball for former Georgetown Hoya guard Dwayne Bryant also made sure he had year-round tutoring of the finer points of the game. As a sophomore, Starks averaged 18 points a game playing for coach Bryant.
We will continue to follow the Hoya recruiting efforts as they try to rebound from their disappointing 2008-2009 campaign by adding talent on the recruiting trail.
Labels: Georgetown Recruiting
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posted by NBE Blogger @ 12:12 PM
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