Sitting at the press table at the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game last February at Gallaudet, Georgetown University coach John Thompson III accepted congratulations for his latest recruit, DeMatha guard Austin Freeman.
Little did anyone know then that Thompson was watching two other players who would later commit to his school. Last week, St. John’s guard Chris Wright announced his decision to play for Georgetown. This week, DeMatha forward Chris Braswell followed suit.
Braswell, a 6-9, 230-pound junior, averaged 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds last season for a DeMatha squad that went 34-1 and won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and City titles.
On recruiting Web site rivals.com, Braswell is ranked No. 7 among power forwards in the class of 2008. Braswell chose Georgetown over Villanova, Syracuse, Maryland, Virginia and Connecticut.
“His mother (Lisa Braswell) and grandmother wanted him to be close to home,” said DeMatha coach Mike Jones. “In the end, Ithink that was the deciding factor.”
Braswell’s choice is further evidence that Georgetown has become the school of choice for elite basketball players in the Washington area.
On last year’s 23-10 squad that advanced all the way to the NCAA Sweet 16, 6-9 Jeff Green (Northwestern) led in scoring and assists, while 7-2 Roy Hibbert (Georgetown Prep) was the top rebounder and shot blocker.
Braswell’s commitment, in addition to Freeman’s, also demonstrates that the legendary rift between DeMatha and Georgetown is over. When Freeman joins the team next year he will be the first Stag since 1973 to play for the Hoyas.
“Don’t give me credit for that. I didn’t come in and lift the embargo — nothing like that,” said Jones. “When Craig Esherick was the coach, we had some conversations about some of our players. The relationship has grown since them.”
Hoyas hoopla
» Georgetown opens its season on Nov. 11 at the Verizon Center with a home game against Hartford.
» Last year, the Hoyas went 23-10 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
» Braswell is the first player from DeMatha to commit to Georgetown since 1973.
