Multiple transfers end of semester 2019

[professorhoya]

Dec 3, 2019 13:32:41 GMT -5 SSHoya said:

Dec 3, 2019 13:14:06 GMT -5 Nevada Hoya said:

I just had an interview with a high school student on Sunday. One of the questions she asked was "what did you not like about Georgetown?" And I could not come up with an answer. Now, even though I am not a student anymore (for a long time), I cannot be so enthusiastic about Georgetown on my interviews. Even so that I am thinking twice about interviewing anymore. I wonder if the applications to Georgetown will go down.

I wouldn't think applications will decline. IMO, it's been years since basketball has been a draw for applicants. By and large, I think most applicants are drawn to Georgetown by its academic reputation and programs. What has been your actual experience why kids apply? I did interviewing 30+ years ago.

Yeah a lot of the students body doesn’t care about basketball or sports.
They aren’t coming here specifically for being a fan of basketball.

[smokeyjack]

Dec 3, 2019 12:55:31 GMT -5 HoyaDr said:

Dec 3, 2019 11:30:17 GMT -5 gatormcclusky said:

good grief, relax man.

Lol you're relaxed after all this? Fine it's civil lawsuits and accusations right now. We don't know the facts blah blah. But James and Josh are gone, two more may follow. I'll relax if our current recruits decide to still attend Georgetown. I'll relax if we can get some quality recruits to replace our outgoing players. Also there's a list out there and just the fact that this list exists is tarnishing Georgetown's reputation. This is all over social media, national news, etc. This affects everything Georgetown stands for as a basketball program and as a university. Maybe I was a little emotional but maybe that's the appropriate response to all this.

Correct. It's the biggest cluster in the history of the program. Bigger than George Butler and his cheating. Bigger than taking a chance on once-incarcerated AI. Bigger than Kenny and his Samurai swords. Bigger than Victor and his litany of post-GU offenses (because they didn't happen at GU). This is a debacle, plain and simple. One quarter of the roster involved in multiple alleged criminal activities. Given the recent admissions scandal, this is two massive black eyes in consecutive years. I'd say the Dr has every right and reason to be emotional and outraged. 


 

[professorhoya]

Dec 3, 2019 14:06:50 GMT -5 smokeyjack said:

Dec 3, 2019 12:55:31 GMT -5 HoyaDr said:

Lol you're relaxed after all this? Fine it's civil lawsuits and accusations right now. We don't know the facts blah blah. But James and Josh are gone, two more may follow. I'll relax if our current recruits decide to still attend Georgetown. I'll relax if we can get some quality recruits to replace our outgoing players. Also there's a list out there and just the fact that this list exists is tarnishing Georgetown's reputation. This is all over social media, national news, etc. This affects everything Georgetown stands for as a basketball program and as a university. Maybe I was a little emotional but maybe that's the appropriate response to all this.

Correct. It's the biggest cluster in the history of the program. Bigger than George Butler and his cheating. Bigger than taking a chance on once-incarcerated AI. Bigger than Kenny and his Samurai swords. Bigger than Victor and his litany of post-GU offenses (because they didn't happen at GU). This is a debacle, plain and simple. One quarter of the roster involved in multiple alleged criminal activities. Given the recent admissions scandal, this is two massive black eyes in consecutive years. I'd say the Dr has every right and reason to be emotional and outraged. 


 

How is bringing in AI considered a debacle?

[Nevada Hoya]

Dec 3, 2019 13:32:41 GMT -5 SSHoya said:

I wouldn't think applications will decline. IMO, it's been years since basketball has been a draw for applicants. By and large, I think most applicants are drawn to Georgetown by its academic reputation and programs. What has been your actual experience why kids apply? I did interviewing 30+ years ago.

Actually, we haven't talked bball for a while in any of my interviews. I get mostly female student (and half Asians this year), who are more interested in academics as you said. But having this negative news on a national level cannot be good.

[iowa80]

Dec 3, 2019 13:38:48 GMT -5 ColumbiaHeightsHoya said:

I am to blame. I am a cancerous growth on all of my favorite teams. First it was the Malice in the Palace for my Pacers who were championship caliber as I watched in slow mo the destruction of a franchise. Then it was Hank Baskett and his muffed handling of an onside kick for my beloved Colts. Then a serial rapist at Penn State ruined my love for the school my father went to and I grew up a childhood fan of in football. Next Andrew Luck made the sensible decision for his health only to forget about my fandom as the Colts suffered yet another "what if". Finally it is the Hoyas my alma mater that has crushed my soul as an 18 year season ticket holder and eternal optimist. Now that I have millenialled the crap out of this and made it all about me, you can go back to your regular Hoya rantings.

What would it take for you to start rooting for the Ravens, Yankees, Kentucky, and Duke?

[professorhoya]

Dec 3, 2019 14:12:01 GMT -5 iowa80 said:

Dec 3, 2019 13:38:48 GMT -5 ColumbiaHeightsHoya said:

I am to blame. I am a cancerous growth on all of my favorite teams. First it was the Malice in the Palace for my Pacers who were championship caliber as I watched in slow mo the destruction of a franchise. Then it was Hank Baskett and his muffed handling of an onside kick for my beloved Colts. Then a serial rapist at Penn State ruined my love for the school my father went to and I grew up a childhood fan of in football. Next Andrew Luck made the sensible decision for his health only to forget about my fandom as the Colts suffered yet another "what if". Finally it is the Hoyas my alma mater that has crushed my soul as an 18 year season ticket holder and eternal optimist. Now that I have millenialled the crap out of this and made it all about me, you can go back to your regular Hoya rantings.

What would it take for you to start rooting for the Ravens, Yankees, Kentucky, and Duke?

And Alabama (except not this year)

[SSHoya]

Dec 3, 2019 14:11:04 GMT -5 Nevada Hoya said:

Dec 3, 2019 13:32:41 GMT -5 SSHoya said:

I wouldn't think applications will decline. IMO, it's been years since basketball has been a draw for applicants. By and large, I think most applicants are drawn to Georgetown by its academic reputation and programs. What has been your actual experience why kids apply? I did interviewing 30+ years ago.

Actually, we haven't talked bball for a while in any of my interviews. I get mostly female student (and half Asians this year), who are more interested in academics as you said. But having this negative news on a national level cannot be good.

Agreed. This and the tennis coach Admissions scandal. Nevada, I'm going to PM you about a different matter in a few minutes.

[hoyasaxa2003]

Perhaps as an alumnus, my viewpoint is different from those who are not, but while I find this situation to be devastating to the basketball program, it does not lessen my love for Georgetown University the institution. Perhaps it is because I became a basketball fan after graduating (I blame Esherick for my lack of interest back then!), but Georgetown meant a whole lot more to me then, and it still does now, even though my main path of exposure to the university now is via the basketball program.

That said, I will still proudly wear my Georgetown apparel, and be as much of a cheerleader for the university as always. Obviously, this is a bad PR moment for Georgetown, but I am confident the academic stars of the class of 2020 aren't going to be affected substantially by this. I am sure it'll be a hot topic on campus, but keep in mind a high percentage of the student body does not care about the program, Patrick Ewing, Akinjo, or LeBlanc.

In my mind, one of the most important aspects is the impact, if any, on the basketball class of 2020. Hopefully, there will be none. Ewing is going to have to fill out the class with more players now, and frankly, even this PR nightmare aside, from a basketball perspective, this is going to be create more challenges for everyone involved.

[royski]

The basketball program is not a major draw for the vast majority of current Georgetown applicants imo, and this will do little to affect application rates.

[1789]

If Duke can get over the Lacrosse PR nightmare I am confident Georgetown will get over this as well. It may take some time, but everything will be OK. Let's not rush to judgement and ruin lives until we have the facts.

[RG]

I agree hoyasaxa2003. GU means a whole lot to me beyond basketball and I am always (and will continue to be) proud to wear my apparel. And I am also an interviewer and I can't remember a student in quite some time who has even brought up the BB team, though interestingly, several have mentioned our nationally ranked mens' and women's soccer programs. Yes, this is a tough time right now, but it too shall pass.

[hoyainla]

Well there we have it. The transfers caused the news. Neither player was dismissed.

guhoyas.com/news/2019/12/3/mens-basketball-message-from-georgetown-athletics.aspx

Men's Basketball 12/3/2019 2:28:00 PM

A Message From Georgetown Athletics
Dear Hoya Basketball Supporter,

Many of you have been following recent news regarding our Men's Basketball Team. Yesterday, we announced that two students, James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc, will not be members of the team for the remainder of the season as they have expressed an interest in transferring from the University. Separately, allegations were reported publicly against three members of the team. The allegations do not involve James Akinjo.

While Georgetown refrains from commenting on individual students in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we take student conduct issues very seriously. Alleged conduct violations are investigated and adjudicated by the Office of Student Conduct through a fair and equitable process. Both the complainant and the accused student are given the opportunity to provide written and oral statements along with any relevant evidence before disciplinary actions are taken. Student-athletes are subject to the same disciplinary policies and procedures contained in the Code of Conduct that apply to any undergraduate or graduate student.

Once the student conduct process is completed, and if sanctions are imposed by the Office of Student Conduct, coaches may impose additional disciplinary actions, including removal from the team. When students report concerns for their safety, the University takes immediate action and offers a range of options and supportive resources for students, which may include putting in place no contact orders between members of the campus community, filing a complaint with the University or the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD), safety planning with GUPD, police escorts for students, counseling and other support services - all to ensure complainants are safe on campus. If the University determines that a student poses an immediate threat to the safety or security of students or of the community, the University would take immediate action to remove the student from campus.

Please know that we are deeply committed to the integrity of our athletics program. All student athletes are required to complete a four-tiered education model on interpersonal violence and sexual assault. Coach Ewing has taken additional steps to ensure a culture of responsibility and integrity within our Men's Basketball Team.

We seek to develop the talents, character and leadership qualities of all student-athletes and members of our community. We aspire for our student-athletes to exemplify the excellence and integrity of the Georgetown community and will continue to work to achieve this mission.

Sincerely,
Lee Reed
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

[DanMcQ]

Amazing how some things take on a life of their own on the internets... and no, this is no attempt to minimize or trivialize ongoing matters involving TROs.

[royski]

Another PR statement that simply raises more questions than it provides answers. Hard to see Reed surviving this at this point, the story is only growing and he seems ill equipped to managing a fast moving crisis.

[guru]

Dec 3, 2019 15:13:41 GMT -5 DanMcQ said:

Amazing how some things take on a life of their own on the internets... and no, this is no attempt to minimize or trivialize ongoing matters involving TROs.

Might not be an attempt too minimize it, but it does the trick nicely. I actually credit the internet for helping To expose what's reality going on in the program. It's a shambles. Sad

[hoyaboya]

Dec 3, 2019 15:14:01 GMT -5 royski said:

Another PR statement that simply raises more questions than it provides answers. Hard to see Reed surviving this at this point, the story is only growing and he seems ill equipped to managing a fast moving crisis.

Interesting take - I actually think the new press release is pretty well done.

The question now becomes, if they transferred over the weekend of their own accord, who leaked the stuff on legal problems? Did some enterprising person who was interested in the subject just start looking into court filings and find this within a couple hours of the transfer news breaking? Or did somebody from the Hoyas basketball program/athletic department leak it to the media to help justify LeBlanc/Akinjo leaving? And if the latter, did they not think there would be people asking about what Ewing knew and when he knew it?

[rhw485]

The statement seems to imply the following:

1. Akinjo and LeBlanc expressed they were transferring so they were removed from the team, unrelated to any of civil claims (of which of course none even involve Akinjo)
2. The school seems prepared to let Gardner and Alexander play despite the civil claims and will let that process run its course.

So basically two of our future building blocks / foundation players didn't want to play here AND the school is not intervening despite allegations of wrongdoing against other players. We can debate whether the second half of the statement is appropriate or not but it's all pretty terrible

[calhoya]

The statement certainly says that LeBlanc and Akinjo wanted to leave and by implication that they were not forced to leave.

[iowa80]

Separately, allegations were reported publicly against three members of the team. The allegations do not involve James Akinjo.

I hope this is an indication of some remorse over not issuing separate statements for each player under the circumstances.  Note as well the failure to mention LeBlanc's inclusion in "three members of the team" although his name was previously mentioned.  Looks like this went through legal for sure.

[bigoc]

This is telling me that if LeBlanc did not transfer, would still be playing (even with the allegations of stealing, harassing, threats, etc.)?