Hoyas Add Veteran Center
A need for depth at center was addressed Tuesday with inbound transfer Vincent Iwuchukwu, a 7-1 center from St. John's.
Born in Germany and raised in San Antonio, Iwuchukwu was the #16 ranked junior in 2021 and 25th as a senior in 2022 at Southern California Academy, the same school as former Georgetown forward Drew Fielder. He signed with USC but suffered a heart attack during a summer practice and underwent back surgery at the end of his freshman season, transferring after two seasons with a 5.3 point, 4.7 rebound average with 11 starts as a sophomore.Iwuchukwu's single season at St. John's was disappointing by comparison, averaging just seven minutes per game behind Zuby Ejiofor, with a 2.7 point, 1.7 rebound average. Expected to return to the Redmen in 2025-26, a deeper St. John's lineup led Iwuchukwu to transfer within hours of the closing of the transfer portal on April 22.
By his size, Iwuchukwu brings depth to what remains a questionable Georgetown front line pending the decision of Thomas Sorber whether to remain in the NBA Draft. Absent Sorber, the Hoyas would likely turn to rising sophomore Julius Halaifonua, who played just six games before a season ending injury and redshirt freshman Seal Diouf, who sat out the 2024-25 season.
The basketball office has not commented on the transfer, which brings the Hoyas to 12 scholarship players for the 2025-26 season.
Jayden Epps To Mississippi State
The last of Georgetown's five portal departures has landed a home, as junior guard Jayden Epps will transfer to Mississippi State, per reports.
Epps is one of five incoming players for the Bulldogs, who finished 21-13 with a first round appearance in the 2025 NCAA tournament."The Bulldogs are experiencing heavy roster turnover from last season's team that reached a third consecutive NCAA tournament," writes the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. "Leading scorer Josh Hubbard declared for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. If he doesn't return, MSU will lose its top eight scorers from last season...Epps is Mississippi State's fifth transfer commitment joining wing Achor Achor (Kansas State), guard/forward Amier Ali (Arizona State), center Quincy Ballard (Wichita State) and guard Ja'Borri McGhee (UAB)."
Following one season at Illinois and two at Georgetown, Epps will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Thomas Sorber: Decisions Ahead
In his first interview since the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, freshman center Thomas Sorber knows the weight of the decision before him whether to pursue the NBA draft. A sophomore year at Georgetown still remains an option.
"I don't ever have no problem coming back. I love Georgetown," Sorber told The HOYA. "That's why it's a hard decision for me to fully just go, rather than just come back. That's why I'm taking my time, making sure what I really want."Sorber told The HOYA he is pleased with the inbound recruits for the Hoyas. "It brought a smile to my face, hearing that they signed with Georgetown. It's helping the Georgetown decision a bit more, but I wouldn't say it's the main part."
As to the NBA, "I want to be on the team that I can fit on perfectly, and I wouldn't say the number of the draft really matters. It's really just the fit," adding he would prefer a team somewhere close to his Trenton, NJ home. "Hopefully, it's somewhere that I feel comfortable and that I made the right decision, not having regrets," he said.
Early entry candidates must decide by May 29 whether to remain in the draft.
