Post by jhb on Jun 16, 2021 16:25:58 GMT -5
Patrick Ewing
C
7'0"
240
23
Georgetown
After leading the Hoyas to 3 NCAA Championship games in his four year career, Ewing may go down as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He rose to this prominence from humble beginnings, being born in Kingston, Jamaica and living there until moving to the US to be with family in Massachusetts. He was a late arrival to the game of basketball, only beginning to play in high school after being a cricket and soccer player as a child. He was one of the most sought after basketball recruits ever when he agreed to join Thompson at Georgetown (famously passing on UNC and Dean Smith due to passing a KKK rally on his recruiting visit). He's a national champion and a winner and simply looking at a list of Ewing's individual achievements and honors as a Hoya is a bit mind-boggling...
1981-82 All-Big East - 2nd Team
1981-82 Big East All-Freshman
1981-82 Big East Defensive Player of the Year
1981-82 Big East Rookie of the Year
1982 All-Big East Tournament - 1st Team
1982 NCAA All-Tournament
1982 NCAA Tournament All-Region
1982-83 All-Big East - 1st Team
1982-83 Big East Defensive Player of the Year
1982-83 Consensus All-America - 1st Team
1983-84 All-Big East - 1st Team
1983-84 Big East Defensive Player of the Year
1983-84 Big East Player of the Year
1983-84 Consensus All-America - 1st Team
1984 All-Big East Tournament - 1st Team
1984 Big East Tournament MVP
1984 NCAA All-Tournament
1984 NCAA Tournament All-Region
1984 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
1984-85 All-Big East - 1st Team
1984-85 AP Player of the Year
1984-85 Big East Defensive Player of the Year
1984-85 Big East Player of the Year
1984-85 NABC Player of the Year
1984-85 Naismith Award
1984-85 Rupp Trophy
1984-85 Sporting News Player of the Year
1984-85 Consensus All-America - 1st Team
1985 All-Big East Tournament - 1st Team
1985 Big East Tournament MVP
1985 NCAA All-Tournament
1985 NCAA Tournament All-Region
Just absolutely ridiculous the accolades this young man has accumulated in his short basketball career. And he's done it because he is the absolute blueprint for what you'd want in a center. He's got the height and length that's ideal. He's as strong as a bull and he still moves exceptionally well for a man his size, showing great lateral agility and elevation. That makes him an absolutely fearsome defender, as he's got the ability to defend both in the post and out to the perimeter on more athletic bigs. He is one of the greatest rim protectors college basketball has ever seen, swatting away an obscene 4 shots per 36 minutes at Georgetown. His active hands also created over a steal a game in his time there and he absolutely shuts down the defensive boards to all comers. He seals his space at the rim and elevates well when rebounding, doing a great job of anticipating the carom to vacuum up boards and end possessions.
Offensively, he's done a great job of developing a number of good post moves in his short time in the game of basketball and he does a great job of only taking good shots. While he wasn't a high volume scoring option, he made over 60% of his shots in college and did a good job of playing within himself and not forcing the issue. He showed soft hands and a soft touch when receiving the ball and finishing around the rim off of cuts and a very good handle with his back to the basket. While he's not much of a passer, he does an excellent job of using screens to create opportunities for his teammates. Scouts biggest complaints about Ewing include that he's not nearly as active on the offensive boards as he is the defensive boards nor is he a great jump shooter...but he does so well around the rim and in the post that he doesn't really need to shoot much. Improving his shot form at least would make him more efficient when he frequently makes it to the free throw line. He peaked at 65% in college.
Ewing is a 23 year old and among the oldest players in this class. Despite being a latecomer to the game, just getting started as a player in high school...he has received tremendous mentorship from John Thompson and the Hoyas coaching staff at college. Scouts believe Ewing has got tremendous natural upside (perhaps best in class), but they wonder how much more there is for him to grow at this point based on how well-rounded his game was as a collegiate player.
