Basketball

LINKS: Young Hoyas Roster Offers High Potential And His Staff Added a Top Recruiting Class

Nero Scofield

10 weeks ‘til tip, Georgetown fans await finalized roster and schedule

With just 10 weeks until the college basketball season begins, the sport finds itself in a strange position due to factors like NIL deals, the transfer portal, conference realignment, and the possibility of employee unions. After hiring one of the highest-paid coaches a year ago, it’s evident that the Georgetown Hoyas recognize the financial shifts in the game. Although Ed Cooley and the Hoyas have yet to announce their non-conference schedule or roster, fans who have been following the team this summer are feeling a sense of excitement. The absence of Kenner participation has kept some developments under wraps, but the team’s youth provides a promising upside. The key question is whether that potential will translate into performance on the court come early November or mid-February.

With the anticipated roster, many fans (including this humble lunch blog contributor) are beginning to see the exciting potential of this young team. While maintaining roster retention was seen as an important goal for establishing a solid foundation—and a significant reason for not hiring a rival coach—only two players with BIG EAST experience are returning. No offense to those who left, but it’s fair to say the Hoyas may actually be in a better position because of it.

Ed Cooley and his staff have brought in a top recruiting class, including the Ivy League’s rookie of the year, a versatile graduate transfer from TCU with a strong defensive focus, a highly athletic forward from Kentucky, and a Michigan Mr. Basketball runner-up from Louisville. Although GU didn’t land an experienced big man through the portal this spring, the team did secure a 7-footer from New Zealand, along with two reclassified forwards who could add depth to the front court or be redshirted for future development.

As of today, here’s the projected roster, sorted by height:

  • Malik Mack 6-1 170 (Harvard transfer) Soph.
  • Jayden Epps 6-2 187 G Jr.
  • Kayvaun Mulready 6-4 G (incoming) Fr.
  • Curtis Williams, Jr. 6-5 205 G/F (Louisville transfer) Soph.
  • Caleb Williams 6-7 F (incoming) Fr.
  • Micah Peavy 6-8 G 215 (TCU grad transfer)
  • Drew McKenna 6-8 G/F (redshirted at GU) Fr.
  • Jayden Fort 6-8 200 G/F (expected to redshirt) Fr.
  • Jordan Burks 6-8 202 F (UK transfer) Soph.
  • Seal Diouf 6-8 F (incoming from the Netherlands) Fr.
  • Drew Fielder 6-10 216 F Soph.
  • Thomas Sorber 6-10 F/C (incoming) Fr.
  • Julius Halaifonua 7-0 C (incoming from NZ) Fr.
  • Hashem Asadallah 6-1 Fr (walk-on)
  • Austin Montgomery 6-4 G Fr (walk-on)
  • Michael Van Raaphorst 6-4 G (incoming walk-on)
  • Mason Moses 6-5 G (incoming walk-on)

This roster features a lot of talent, but experience and physical maturity are crucial in the modern BIG EAST. Micah Peavy, a graduate student, and junior Jayden Epps will lead the team, which includes 11 freshmen and sophomores. While this young squad could benefit in the long run, it’s unclear if we’re truly entering an era dominated by underclassmen.

Expectations are higher in year two, and fans may be a bit impatient, but the roster looks set for significant improvement over previous performances. The key question is whether this young group can mature quickly enough to be competitive from the start of the season, or if fans will need to be patient a little longer.

Earlier this summer, Associate Head Coach Jeff Battle stated, “Offensively, we’ll be fine, but we need to improve significantly on defense.” Historically, Ed Cooley’s teams have excelled defensively. Strong, aggressive defense should be Georgetown’s hallmark, though it sounds straightforward.

There’s no question that if this team remains united, they could be quite competitive in a year or two. With its young talent, the roster has the potential to develop strong defensive habits and reshape the program’s defensive identity. However, whether these young players can transition into a solid defense by January is uncertain.

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