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Georgetown Basketball: September 2000 News Archive

Mourning Prepares For Olympics...And Family 9/14/00

It's hard to believe that it's been 12 years ago this fall that Alonzo Mourning (C '92) arrived at Georgetown a college freshman...after almost making the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team.

"In those days, I wasn't really thinking, I was just playing. I was excited about being around all those players who were already established. I was a little fish in a big pond."

Twelve years later, this five time NBA All-Star leads the U.S. Olympic Team in basketball action at the Summer Games in Sydney. Here's a link to the Norfolk Virginian Pilot with an interview of Mourning.

According to the article, "Mourning's wife, Tracy, is due Sept. 17. After the opening ceremonies, he'll fly home to Miami for the birth, spend a few days with his wife and new baby, then fly back to Sydney. "She told me she wanted me to go,'' Mourning said. "She didn't want me to pass this opportunity because it only comes every four years." Had Tracy said no, Mourning would have stayed home. As much as he'd like to play, family comes first."

Third Verbal Commitment? 9/11/00

The Washington Post reported that Rockville point guard Drew Hall will be the third member of the powerhouse Montrose Christian Academy team to join the Hoyas next fall. Hall would join forward Harvey Thomas and guard Tony Bethel, each of which have made verbal commitments to attend Georgetown next fall.

By contrast, the Washington Times noted Thomas and Bethel, but not Hall. In any case, schools cannot comment on recruits until a letter of intent is signed, which is not until at least November.

Hall averaged 14 points per game and selected Georgetown over Florida State, Virginia and Dayton, according to Fastbreak Recruiting. It's believed to be the first time Georgetown has selected three players from the same high school since 1976, when John Duren, Craig Shelton, and Lonnie Duren (after a year in prep school) were members of the Dunbar HS team in Washington.

Thompson (III) To Coach Princeton 9/6/00

Princeton University announced the hiring of John Thompson III, 34, as head coach of the Tigers following the departure of Bill Carmody to Northwestern.

Thompson is a 1988 graduate of Princeton and a six year assistant on the Tigers' bench. While a player at Princeton, Thompson ranks third on the school's all-time assists list. The Tigers were 17-9 last season but lost their best player, 6-10 Chris Young, when Young signed a professional baseball contract over the summer. Here's a link to the Trenton Times on Princeton's prospects with Thompson.

When asked if he felt any pressure as the namesake of a famous coach, Thompson quipped that "I've been John Thompson's son for 34 years now and I've grown used to being John Thompson's son."

Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post has an insightful column on the relationship between John Thompson III and his father and the coaching ties that now bind them.

Another Local Recruit To Visit GUn 9/5/00

The recruiting web sites of High Major Hoops and All-Star Sports report that 6-1 Rockville guard Tony Bethel will visit Georgetown this week.

"They've always wanted me as a player and never asked me to change my game," Bethel is previously quoted on the story. "I feel comfortable with them because they are close to home, and you can't beat the academics there."

Schools cannot comment on recruits until a letter of intent is signed, which is not until at least November.

 

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