LINKS: Freshmen in NYC, Akinjo in SF, Ewing Recruiting

Last weekend the BIG EAST hosted the freshman of the Georgetown Hoyas, along with other conference rookies for the “Freshmen Frundamentals” Program. Qudus Wahab, Malcolm Wilson, Timothy Ighoefe, and Myron Gardner joined 26 freshmen from the BIG EAST for some seminars, tours, and photo-ops.

[UPDATE 3PM: Georgetown released an All-Access Episode]

BIG EAST Hosts Fifth Annual Freshmen Fundamentals Program | BIG EAST

The BIG EAST Conference will host its fifth annual Freshmen Fundamentals program, designed to assist men’s basketball student-athletes make the transition from high school to college and the elite level of BIG EAST basketball, Senior Associate Commissioner for Men’s Basketball Stu Jackson announced today.

Freshmen Fundamentals will be held in New York City on Sept. 14-15. All scholarship and walk-on freshmen from the league’s 10 schools are invited to attend. Thirty student-athletes are expected to participate.

BIG EAST Freshmen Learn Fundamentals From Experts | BIG EAST

The formal sessions began with Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, who conducted a mental health awareness discussion. An expert in teen, young adult and family mental health, Dr. Alfiee, as she is known, reminded the freshmen, “To be mindful of your mind.” ...

The players also heard a talk on Relationship Management and Safety from Kalimah Johnson, founder and executive director of SASHA (Sexual Assault Services for Holistic and Awareness) Center in Detroit, Mich. Johnson and student-athletes had an interactive discussion on personal relationships and safety.

The players also heard from Dell Demps, the former general manager of the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, who talked to the freshmen about careers in professional basketball....

On Sunday morning, the players heard a media training session from Dave Popkin, a versatile broadcaster... Popkin suggested the players think about general talking points they would like to make before doing an interview and ask the team’s media relations professional for any help they might need.

Basketball trainer Turner making name for himself | SFGate (2018)

The 29-year-old from Fort Bragg makes it crystal clear he wasn’t Curry’s primary trainer then, nor is he now. He’s mostly on call.

But that crazy, unlikely connection from Turner to Gerber to Curry and back to Turner was better than any play the Warriors ever designed....

“He’s really helped sharpen every tool I have,” James Akinjo said of Turner. “He sees things, too. We break down film. We talk about how to get out of double teams or dribbling less and expending less energy. … Besides basketball, he’s just a cool dude. He works you hard, but he’s not a hard-ass. He’s funny.”

Barber: Fort Bragg’s Packie Turner trains the NBA stars | Santa Rosa Press Democrat (2018)

...But one of the Buzzfeed photos was taken at Oracle Arena. There’s Drake on the left, and Curry on the right. In the middle, with Drake’s arm around his shoulder, is a nondescript white dude. Who was this lucky person?

“They named the other two guys. Wouldn’t the guy in the middle be kind of important?” Patrick “Packie” Turner asked with a laugh.

But this was Packie Turner’s natural position: largely anonymous, and in the middle of everything.

Georgetown Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Hoyas | Fansided

Omer Yurtseven is a bit of a wild card. During his two seasons at NC State, he was high on the radar of NBA teams but only showed flashes of being an NBA-level talent on the court. He is extremely skilled around the basket and has range extending out to the three-point line, both of which helped him average 13.5 points and 6.7 rebounds in 2017-18, but was often bullied by other opposing big men who could somewhat match his size (7-foot, 275 lbs). His lack of foot speed also limited him defensively.

The Turkish native practiced with the Hoyas all of last season and has now had a full year and half of tutelage under Ewing, which should help his progression and impact. He enters the season as one of their best players and will be relied on to handle the load Govan carried for the past two years. Expect him to be one of major focal points of the offense.

Georgetown Coach Patrick Ewing Checked On 5-Stars Keon Edwards, Michael Foster | CBBToday

Not only do all reputable recruiting service outlets have Michael Foster pegged as a five-star caliber player, but most tend to agree the 6-foot-9 forward is one of the four (or so) best players in the entire 2021 recruitment grouping. At the time of this writing, Foster is averaging 14 points and 8.0 rebounds per game with Mac Irvin Fire.

As for Keon Edwards, reputable recruiting service outlets are as high on him, slotting him also as a five-star and as one of the 10 (or so) best players in the entire class.

Obviously, getting both — or even only either — of these guys would be a big deal for Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas.

NCAA Basketball: 5 coaches who are on the hot seat for 2019-20 season | Fansided

It’s year three for Ewing, and 34-29 in his first two seasons doesn’t necessarily jump off the stat sheet... it’s realistic for Georgetown fans to have higher expectations than previous years. Unfair or not, John Thompson put a defining stamp on Georgetown teams of the past: opponents literally knew Georgetown was in the building the moment they walked in. Since he’s been gone, Hoya nation has been craving a brand to call their own. Ewing’s never been one to shy away from pressure, and I think he’s the right guy for the job. However, in a business where you’re only as good as your last game, winning will ultimately determine his fate come April.

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