King, Opoku join Hollis in recruiting class
Point guard Travis King and forward Hermann Opoku, both out of the South Kent School in Connecticut, committed to play at GW next year, rounding out a class that already includes swingman Damian Hollis out of J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Fla.
Mensah-Bonsu, Pinnock attend pre-draft camp
Graduated forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu and early entry Danilo (J.R.) Pinnock were invited to the NBA’s annual pre-draft camp, taking place from June 6 to 10 in Orlando, Fla., to perform in front of NBA representatives. The camp usually attracts college basketball players who are not guaranteed to be drafted in the first round.
Former Colonials getting more workouts
Although recent GW graduates Mike Hall and Omar Williams were not invited to Orlando, they have still been able to work out for individual teams. Hall has worked out for his hometown Chicago Bulls and Denver Nuggets, and played against Maryland’s Nik Caner-Medley in front of NBA representatives at the University of Illinois-Chicago. He has been training with Tim Grover, who is known for his relationship with Michael Jordan.
Williams, who appeared to have improved his draft stock with his positive showing at the NCAA Tournament, has reportedly only worked out for the Wizards.
Mensah-Bonsu worked out for the Wizards, Trailblazers and Grizzlies, among others.
Pinnock scheduled a June 15 workout with the Wizards and said in early June that he is close to securing workouts with other teams, although he declined to name them.
More transfers coming to Foggy Bottom
Following in the footsteps of Clemson transfer Cheyenne Moore, Virginia Tech’s Wynton Witherspoon will also be making the switch from the ACC to the Atlantic-10, according to FoxSports.com. Witherspoon, a six-foot-seven, 185-pound swingman who averaged 6.3 points per game last year, will have to sit out a year before he can suit up for the last two years of his eligibility.
Seven-foot-three, 232-pound center Jermaine Middleton will also transfer to GW next year. Another South Kent alumnus, Middleton played sparingly for Central Connecticut State last year and will also have to sit out a year before playing in Foggy Bottom.
Still no word on Elliott, McDonald
Senior guard Carl Elliott, who declared for the NBA Draft but has not hired an agent in order to retain his collegiate eligibility, has not announced whether he is staying in the draft. Pinnock said that Elliott is leaning heavily in one direction, but would not say which. Elliott has until June 18 to make a decision.
Sophomore forward Montrell McDonald, who was suspended for the second half of last year after an unspecified team violation, said in May that he would likely transfer, but he has yet to announce a destination. He is expected to go somewhere closer to his home in Texas.
-Andrew Alberg
