To me Georgetown hiring Patrick Ewing feels more than a little risky.
It’s splashy hire that will give Georgetown the attention it thinks it’s entitled to after years of fading relevance.
It feels like a move to help mend fences with John Thompson more than hiring the coach, who best fits the job. At best it’s a high risk move.
But more important than any of that, Ewing is now the obvious starting center on the All College Basketball Coaches Team. Which begs key questions:
Who else is on the roster?
The starting five?
Wonder no longer.
I’m basing this list on the entirety of their playing career. So NBA accomplishments featured prominently in my choices. The schools listed with the player’s name are where they are currently coaching.
Starters
Center: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown – Hall of Famer, Dream Teamer. This is an easy call.
Power Forward: Danny Manning, Wake Forest – There are more former guards than former bigs on the sideline. Manning was an outstanding college player and a good pro.
Guard:Chris Mullin, St. John’s – Hall of Famer, Dreamer Teamer. Also an easy call.
Guard: Mark Price, Charlotte – The former Cavalier was a four-time All-Star. An outstanding shooter and passer, he was a great player on some very good Cavs teams that were overshadowed by dominant Celtics, then Pistons then Bulls teams.
Guard: Terry Porter, Portland — The two-time All-Star has his number retired by the Portland Trail Blazers. He was overshadowed by teammate Clyde Drexler, but was an excellent NBA guard for a long time.
Bench
Dan Majerle, Grand Canyon
Avery Johnson, Alabama, –
Reggie Theus, Northridge
Damon Stoudamire, Pacific
Donyell Marshall – CCSU –
Scott Padgett, Samford
Mark Pope Utah Valley
Johnny Dawkins, UCF
Steve Alford, UCALA
Kevin Ollie, UConn
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage