You may be getting an early start to the Labor Day weekend, taking photos of Casual headbands in heretofore unimagined locales. But the end of summer is a busy time on the Hilltop, where new students are arriving, and potential new Hoyas--basketball recruits--are visiting. Despite a scarcity of currently available scholarships for next year, the Hoya coaching staff is hosting one high-level baller after another from the class of 2013. There's the tendency to fret over why Georgetown is recruiting for spots it doesn't currently have, but a lot can change in the next year. Plus, better to over-recruit than to scramble to find the Spring needle (Greg Whittington, Otto Porter) in the mid-major haystack (they were good kids, and we wish them well).
So who are these maybe future Hoyas? And who will end up wearing the blue and gray?
Johnathan Williams III.
- Scouting summary: 6'8", 208-lb. PF from Memphis, Tenn. #34 in ESPN's top 100, #47 in Rivals, #30 in Scout. ESPN tells us, "Williams is a rare combination of length and skill that reminds many of a young Lamar Odom. At 6'7 and left-handed, Williams possesses a tremendous handle and feel for the game. Like Odom, Williams could be considered a point forward that can initiate offense or take the ball off the glass and lead the break. His energy and constant activity on both ends of the floor is a thing of beauty. He is more than capable of breaking down his defender in a one-on-one situation to create a shot for himself. Once he has his defender on his heals he has a nice step-back jump shot from behind the arc. Williams is a competitor who handles adversity well and keeps his cool in games." Check Williams out here.
- Georgetown involvement: Georgetown has offered, and Williams, judging by guest Casual investigation of his twitter account, appears to be visiting the Hilltop today as one of his five official visits.
- The Competition: Plenty. Connecticut, Memphis (where he visited unofficially), Michigan State, Mississippi (with which he's planning an in-home visit), Missouri (ditto), Tennessee (where he'll also visit officially), Texas, lots of others.
Brandon Austin.
- Scouting summary: 6'6", 180-lb. SF from Philadelphia, Pa. #68 in ESPN's top 100, #71 in Rivals, #36 in Scout. ESPN says, "Austin has a very good handle with a killer cross over. He is a very good slasher and penetrator. He is an able passer and can be very effective as a "point forward" with the offense running through him. . . . His size and length is off the charts for a guard. He's attacking the rim with good results off the dribble and starting to become more of a threat with his jumper, which has traditionally been his achilles heel." Long-ish highlights here, a briefer view here.
- Georgetown involvement: Austin is visiting Georgetown September 10. The Hoyas have offered.
- The Competition: Austin is visiting Providence two days before the Hilltop, and plans to visit UCLA, date TBA. He's also considering Baylor, Florida, SMU and Maryland.
Reggie Cameron.
- Scouting summary: 6'7", 210-lb. SF/PF from Paterson, N.J. #65 in ESPN's top 100, #84 in Rivals, NR in Scout (#27 PF in class). Per ESPN, "Cameron is a terrific shooter who is an ideal trail four or pick and pop player. His upside will ultimately depend on his physical development as he doesn't really have a position defensively right now and isn't able to create his own shot against a set defender." Watch some highlights here.
- Georgetown involvement: Cameron yesterday cut his list to seven schools, including Georgetown, which has offered. Cameron apparently visited in mid-August.
- The Competition: The other six on Cameron's list are Connecticut, Miami, N.C. State, North Carolina, Seton Hall, and Michigan.
Akoy Agau.
- Scouting summary: 6'9", 240-lb. PF/C from Omaha, Neb. #81 in ESPN's top 100, #83 in Rivals, NR in Scout (#17 C in class). Per ESPN, "Agau, a native of Sudan, is a long, developing forward prospect with a very high ceiling. He's still raw and inexperienced, but shows flashes of becoming a dominant force in time, particularly on the defensive end." See for yourself here.
- Georgetown involvement: Agau, who in June said that Georgetown was his "leader," recently made his second visit to Georgetown.
- The Competition: Lots. If Rivals is to be believed, Agau has somewhere north of 25 offers. The big boys are Connecticut, Florida, Marquette, Memphis, Missouri, Villanova, and West Virginia.
Others. This is just the most recent recruiting news. Georgetown also has plenty of interest in PG Roddy Peters, PG Tim Quarterman, PG Rysheed Jordan, PF/C Kennedy Meeks, and many others. Obviously, the Hoyas will have a deep bench when the NCAA allows 19 scholarships beginning next year.