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Georgetown Basketball: May 2001 News Archive

NBA Hoyas In The News 5/31/01

In the midst of the Philadelphia 76ers' run in the NBA playoffs, three articles with a Georgetown connection are recommended reading:

  • The Philadelphia Daily News talked to alumni Irvin Church, Brendan Gaughan, and Dean Berry on what it was like to guard Iverson while in college.
  • Also from the Philadelphia Daily News, a reporter (and 1995 alumnus) recalls what it was like when Iverson first arrived at Georgetown.
  • An excellent feature from the Boston Globe on Dikembe Mutombo and his ongoing alumni ties that Sixers owner Pat Croce jokingly refers to as "the Georgetown mafia". The article also notes that the long awaited hospital that Mutombo has been tirelessly raising money for will break ground September 2.
Kenner League Still On Schedule 5/24/01

Rumors of the demise of the Kenner League appear to be just that. A post on the independent MasonHoops.com suggested that Georgetown's campus construction could cancel the tournament, but the site indicates that the Kenner is indeed alive and well.

The Kenner League does not have a web site and it is more likely that schedules and times won't be made public until literally the first weekend, which could be June 23-24 or June 30-July 1. As soon as we hear something, we'll pass it along.

Georgetown 2nd In All-Sports Competition 5/23/01

Georgetown University's men's and women's teams finished second and sixth, respectively, in the Big East Commissioners Trophy competition, given to the school with the best records across all conference sports. Here is a link to the Big East web site with full results.

To no one's surprise, Notre Dame swept the men's and women's titles, as the Irish have won the honors five straight years. ND is moving forward on a plan to offer full endowed scholarships in every sport, including non-revenue and "minor" sports such as soccer, swimming, tennis, and golf. The effort, funded by ND's rapidly growing endowment, will provide a competitive advantage in all sports and further solidify its hold on the top of the Commissioners Trophy results.

However, the efforts of the Georgetown men's and women's teams should not go without notice...and praise. Despite an operating budget that ranks 13th out of 14 Big East teams, and facilities overrun by construction, Georgetown's teams continue to excel across many sports, including four conference titles this year. Congratulations on another outstanding season in Georgetown athletics.

Report: Second Verbal for 2003 5/23/01

Recruiting analyst Dave Telep is reporting that Georgetown has secured a verbal commitment from 6-2 guard Robert McKiver, from Stone Mountain, GA, for the 2002-03 senior recruiting season.

Earlier this month, Georgetown received a verbal commitment from 6-9 sophomore Darian Townes from Alexandria, VA.

Schools cannot comment on verbal commitments until a letter of intent is signed, which would not be official until the early signing period in November 2002.

weetney Invited to Under 22 Team Tryouts 5/15/01

Freshman Mike Sweetney has been invited to the trials for the Under-22 and World University Games teams, according to a link from GUHoyas.com.

A total of 45 players will compete to fill the two teams, which will play at sites in China and Japan during the month of August. A complete list of the invitees is posted at CNN/Sports Illustrated.com.

More From Thompson Re: Early Entries 5/13/01

-Recommended reading from the New York Times web site: a commentary from former coach John Thompson on the increasing trend of underclassmen and high school athletes declaring for the NBA draft.

"While I would be the last person to deny the importance of money, we need to keep the bigger picture in mind," said Thompson. "Teaching young people that education is unimportant and may be skipped in the pursuit of money hurts everybody. Because of basketball's popularity, failing to adopt some rule that stems the tide will flood the nation with this lesson in a way that baseball, hockey, golf and tennis never could. We need to motivate young people to pursue education, not avoid it."

High School Soph Verbals For 2003 5/3/01

Georgetown has landed its first verbal commitment...for the class of 2007.

Darian Townes, a 6-9 sophomore center from Alexandria's T.C. Williams HS, has made a verbal commitment to attend Georgetown in the fall of 2003, according to the Washington Post. Townes averaged 9.9 points and 8.0 rebounds last season and has led the state in blocks two consecutive years despite only being a sophomore.

"He had a lot of offers, but he wanted to stay close to the area so his family can come see him play," said coach Chavez Mabry.

Hoyas-'Hoos Dec. 20? 5/3/01

A home and home series with Virginia nears completion, according to the May 3 Charlottesville Daily Progress. (Unfortunately, the paper does not archive its daily stories, so there is no active link to the story.)

According to the Daily Progress, Virginia will travel to MCI Center on Thursday, December 20 to meet the Hoyas, with a return trip to University Hall in Charlottesville a year later.

Among other non-conference games, various media reports have Georgetown traveling to UCLA on Sunday, December 29, and a home game versus South Carolina to be announced.

Georgetown Basketball Alumnus Dies 5/3/01

May 3--Former Georgetown basketball star and Phoenix Suns scouting director Richard Percudani (College '57) died Tuesday at the age of 65 of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. An obituary was posted at this link to the Associated Press.

At Georgetown, Percudani averaged 6.9 ppg as a forward from 1954-57, then returned to Power Memorial HS, his alma mater, as an assistant coach for nine seasons. At Power, he coached Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) before successful coaching assignments in Italy and at Sacred Heart College in Connecticut, leading the Pioneers to a Division II Final Four appearance in 1977. He joined the NBA's Suns as a scout in 1983 and was the team's scouting director since 1995.

"He was a good person, family man and friend," Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo told the Arizona Republic. "He's going to be sorely missed. He did a great job for us. Perc was very passionate about the game, his job, his work ethic. Everything about him was the way it should be: classy."

 

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