Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Brown, talented freshmen lead Hoyas into post-Mourning era Date: Mon, 2 Nov 92 15:45:13 EST Message-ID: \SE C;SPORTS;COLLEGE BASKETBALL \HD Brown, talented freshmen lead Hoyas into post-Mourning era \BY M.F. Heller \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The absence of anyone wearing No. 33 at Georgetown's first basketball practice yesterday was a further reminder that another era is beginning for coach John Thompson's Hoyas. As was the sight of a 6-foot-10, 220-pound left-handed freshman shooting free throws. Alonzo Mourning is gone, holding out for more money from the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, and prized recruit Othella Harrington has arrived. Harrington and another 6-10 freshman, rail-thin Duane Spencer, help provide the Hoyas with the ingredients of an outstanding, if untested, team. Those two join an experienced cast that apparently will rely heavily on junior guard Joey Brown to lead a senior-less bunch. Another prominent veteran is junior forward Robert Churchwell, also a two-year starter for the Hoyas, whose 1991-92 season ended with an NCAA tournament second-round loss to Florida State. This Hoya squad is a blend of Big East Conference battle-hardened veterans and promising freshmen who amassed big numbers for winning high school programs. "You can expect an awful lot, but whether it becomes a reality is another thing," Thompson said yesterday, reminding reporters of adjustments to college life that freshmen must make. "Those kids are away from home for the first time in their lives." Harrington, a consensus high school all-American, averaged 28.9 points, 24.9 rebounds and 5.8 blocks last season at Murrah High School in Jackson, Miss. He chose Georgetown over Kentucky, Louisville, Connecticut, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana State and Mississippi State. While Harrington is celebrated chiefly for his prodigious rebounding, Spencer is a talented perimeter player whom Thompson said might play some point guard. That would enable Brown to diversify his offensive skills in the off-guard position. Spencer averaged 27.6 points, 13.4 rebounds, 4.2 blocks and six assists last season at New Orleans' Cohen High. Thompson's freshmen are not permitted to speak to the media until Jan. 1, but a couple of Harrington and Spencer's new teammates who played in the Kenner League with them over the summer had something to say. "I think Othella has a world of potential," said Brown, who was a Tombs teammate of Harrington while attending summer school. "I didn't think he was as physical as he was. And he was very confident. . . . Duane may have even more potential than Othella." Thompson said Spencer's flexibility and smoothness on the perimeter make him a candidate along with sophomores John Jacques and Lonnie Harrell to play some point guard. That plan is designed primarily to free up Brown occasionally from the consuming demands of the position. "Joey Brown was very significant on the team last year, and all you heard about was Alonzo Mourning," Thompson said. "If Joey had gone down, we would have had serious problems." With Mourning, Brian Kelly and Ronny Thompson having graduated, Brown will be looked upon to provide senior leadership as a junior. Surprisingly, Brown was the third-leading rebounder on the 22-10 Hoyas last season, averaging 4.1 boards, despite being just 5-10. "I told the kids that Joey was the best power forward we had," Thompson said. "Alonzo was one of the better outside shooters on the team, but Joey couldn't play the pivot. He couldn't post up anybody. He'd try to because of his spirit." Mourning has not vanished from the Georgetown scene. As Patrick Ewing did for him, Mourning has tried to ease Harrington's transition from high school to college, proffering words of advice. "That's the Georgetown tradition," Thompson said. "He welcomed him and bumped him around. And he'll root for him. He'll watch Othella on television and call the school and say something." Yesterday's first practice, more than two weeks later than past years because of new NCAA regulations, gave Thompson a little more time to recuperate from a herniated disk. "I'm fine," he said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM