GOOD VISIT: Hoyas Pushing Hard for Top 2022 F Chris Livingston

So, you’re saying there’s a chance? Fans of the Georgetown Hoyas are cautiously getting their hopes up with 6’6” 5-star forward Chris Livingston out of Akron, OH after he shared some very kind words about Georgetown and Patrick Ewing after the Livingstons made a recent official visit to the Hilltop.

Livingston told Jacob Polacheck of Zagsblog that he loves “Patrick Ewing, what he’s done for the game and how he gives back, being the Hall-of-Famer that he is” and “Having a head coach like Patrick Ewing – he’s been where I want to be in life and he can really help me a lot.” This is not the first time fans have heard a recruit state this sentiment, but it’s great to hear it articulated from a top prospect.

Talking more about his visit to GU, Livingston said, “They’re really down to earth people that you feel you can relate to,” that “They were just talking about how they can really get me to where I want to be,” and that, “They really believe in me and they’re really nice people.” It’s not every interview that one hears a recruit explicitly say, “That was a good visit,” and it may mean more when he notes how “nice” the people are. The reports from Kente Korner are that the entire Livingston family was on-hand to see the campus and hear the pitch. Very good.

The 3rd-ranked prospect of 2022 (ESPN, 24/7. Rivals), Livingston has also visited Kansas and Kentucky, and he plans to see Tennessee State University on August 20th. It is reported that he is also considering professional options like the G League and the new Overtime Elite league. A trip to Memphis is expected, but it sounds like Penny Hardaway’s crew has not been in constant contact.

Kentucky and Kansas appear to be deep with forwards (with M.J. Rice committing to Kansas today), so maybe that means a clearer path for Ewing? Hopefully.

Livingston announced on Instagram that he will be making his decision on his birthday, October 15th—carefully noting that professional leagues are still in play and that his decision is not yet concluded. October can’t come quickly enough.

On the Kentucky visit, the groundwork on NIL was likely laid on pretty thick. Livingston told The Athletic that they “had a media meeting for name, image and likeness, and they talked about the fan base, how many games they have televised and the media [coverage]” and that they “went in-depth on how your social media will grow once you get to Kentucky, about their TV ratings being more than NBA teams’.”

Livingston, of course, mentioned that with Georgetown “[b]eing out in Washington, D.C. with all those corporations and businesses out there, that could really help you along the way,” and that “[t]here’s a lot of things that came to mind that they brought to [Livingston’s] attention – their play style and things like that,” summing up that he thinks “it’s real good.” That’s very good to hear.

Like Georgetown’s potential for success, their attractiveness for NIL opportunities may not be what it once was but it should come quickly. With the BIG EAST Tournament run, fans saw plenty of media attention quickly turn their eyes to the Hall-of-Famer rebooting some Hoya Paranoia from the 80s and 90s. What Patrick Ewing can boast about is their pace and potential—and knowledge of long-term financial focus. NIL is a pittance with compared to 7- or 8-figure guaranteed NBA contracts and a lengthy professional career. For the top prospects, ample NIL opportunities at GU will come soon enough but it should not be the main focus of a potential NBA Draft lottery pick.

For top prospects like Livingston, the decision may merely come down to whether or not Georgetown has “nice people.” Most folks around here would agree that they do.

Here are some highlights:

Meanwhile, two other 2022 forwards have made plans to visit Georgetown, Christian Watson (24/7, Rivals) and Prince Aligbe (24/7, Rivals). Both have been priorities for Ewing and the staff for quite a bit.

The roster is expected to turn over just three scholarships and Denver Anglin has already claimed one. There’s always room in Ewing’s lineups for energetic 6’6” athletic guys.

As always, check out our friends’ scholarship table and recruiting tracker.

Stay tuned!