Another great trip down Memory Lane. Great recalling the recuriting and signing of these guys.

Last edited by Mike K (5/12/2025 1:45 pm)

I really reject the premise that Omar Williams was somehow a disappointment. On teams that were really loaded, he was Team MVP for Karl Hobbs in that 2005-06 season. I think that's a reflection of the team's desire to stand by him after the Post hack job, but it also was a reflection of his ability to make an impact in the way the team needed it. He was, I think, the most flexible player on the team (and that includes Mike Hall). 

Agree wholeheartedly on Beatty. Would also add:

- Reece Rice's senior season
- Tim Johnson
- Daymon Waren

#1) Tom Penders-- We were promised a top-flight coach to replace the best coach the men´s team had ever known, instead we got rudderless team that played some of the sloppiest ball in school history (despite bringing in some of the best talent in school history) before it all imploded in a sea of slime that almost convinced the University to downgrade. Hard to imagine a less pleasant surprise.
#2) Atilla, The -Gate-- OK, a sexual assault in the school-provided dorm room is a less pleasant surprise. Was he really an elite SEC-level talent? His play pre-conviction was certainly not. At least with Matt Albitron we figured the hype was hot air, in the case of Atilla we were told to get psyched, and based on his erratic play there was no reason for it..
#3) The Hippo-- no offense to the poor schlub who had to wear the stupid thing, but the inflatable hippo was supposed to be a modernization of the mascot and make the experience of attending a game at the Smith Center feel accesible and relatable. Instead, it looked like a cheap Barney knock-off wandered around the gym for no reason and with no link to George Washington, the University, the team or basketball in general. Still, it was better than St Joe´s Stupid Bird Suit, so there is that, I guess.
#4) SirValient on NightLine-- Penders sure did set the program back. L. Ron Hubbard´s brief foray in to GW life is probably still the most cringe-worthy thing to happen in school history, but SirShootsAlot telling Ted Koppel that attending class got in the way of his game and that his take away from his time at GW was not to have a Plan B is a close second.

Otherwise, I am pretty reluctant to single out anyone who donned the Buff & Blue for criticism. Did some players come and not live up to the hype? Sure. So what? Hard to ask for more than for players to go to class and hustle on the court (of course, some people criticized Lund for skipping a game to visit a medical school he was interested in attending, so you cannot please everyone).

Some others to consider ...

Darin Green?
Daniel Nixon?
Jackson Payne?
Shandon Brown?
Chris Fitzgerald?
Collin Goss?
Dan Guest?
Tim Johnson?
Marcus Littles?
Darnell Miller?
Ben Schroeder?

Reactions to your suggestions and comments:

1) I don't recall Jonathan Davis being overly heralded.  He was to come in with Trey Davis (who ended up at UMASS upon KH's dismissal) with T. Davis being the so-called prize of that class.

2) Matt Allbritton.  I even mentioned him in the initial post.  No question he was overly hyped (you may recall his having his own fan club here).  However, the hype was worthy of skepticism from the onset and watching him play at Kenner confirmed that he was in over his head.

3) Omar represents a worthy debate.  However, aside from passing, I'm not sure I see a single aspect of Omar's game that was superior to Mike Hall's game.  Again, my point was not to suggest that Omar had a disappointing career.  It was to suggest that as his heralded class's highest rated recruit coming out of high school, Omar's play was disappointing within this context.

4. Rice's senior season.  Great choice.  Tim Johnson was regarded by some as the best in his big recruiting class that also included Kromah, Pellom, Smith and Bynes.  Another solid choice.  Steeve's three point shot?  Pretty granular, but sure!  

5.  Penders?  Not for me and plenty of others who believe we turned down a younger coaching star  Mike Brey) for an aging one who had been unceremoniously dumped at his last coaching stop in Austin.

6. Atilla:  Not so much a surprise as the young man had a checkered past prior to arriving in DC.  But this certainly qualifies as unpleasant.  Note:  I believe the broomstick incident took place inside a hotel room and not a dorm room.  Not that this matters.

7.  Of Rising's group, the ones that stand out the most to me relative to initial hype and expectations compared with performance are Daniel Nixon, Marcus Littles, and Benny Schroeder (in addition to Tim Johnson).  I thought Darnell Miller improved a bit by the time he left.

Of course I'm dating myself, but how about Howard Matthews from Makin High? Getting him in the Lefty Driesell era was a major coup, Unfortunately, he didn't pan out, mostly due to injuries, but it did give Mike Battle the opportunity to really shine for GW.

On my list, I had Howard Matthews also.   We were freshman at the same time and I was in awe how big and strong "The Mean Man" was.  While we are on the really old timers, there was Ned Riddle who was mostly injured.  Tommy Rosepink was a prolific scorer who disappointed.  Later on, we had Max Blank, who also had a promising career done in by injuries. Fully concur with Cosby..  Tamal Forchion was a highly touted recruit who was huge, but his game consisted solely of setting a high pick. Patrick Ngongba didn't do much for me either.   Greg Collucci was an under performer and along those same line, so Was Noel Williams.  Fully agree with the disappointment regarding Mo Rice.  Others were Cheyene Moore, Xavier Alexander, Joseph Katuka, Aaron Ware.  Rasheed Hazzard came with a great pedigree and did nothing.  Then there was the stable entry of Dan Sullivan/Nip Rogers from the bad old days. (Anyone remember them?)  

Perhaps Noel Brown if he hasn't been mentioned.
Not so much about expectations of disappointment. More like blossoming after GW. Guess could
be another thread.
  Noel was the opposite of Max Edwards at Duquesne last year, playing for the Bonnies.
  Classic slower to develop big man--who showed signs of growth.
 But we rode what seemed to be the hot hand of Hunter Dean. Then Dean left for a small role at home state LSU.