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Well, that is a stunner.
The NCAA has cleared former UCLA center, Joshua Smith to play immediately for Georgetown after he transferred there over his other options (Kansas and Washington). He has been practicing with the Hoyas since the end of last season. Smith transferred due to him getting limited minutes his sophomore year under former coach, Ben Howland.
With a frame of 6'10" and weighing in at 350 pounds, this behemoth of a 20-year-old is ready to start playing against some Big East competition this season.
Smith did well as a Bruin. He averaged 10.9 ppg and 6.3 rpg his freshman season in Westwood, earning him an All-Freshman selection. Even in only six games last year before he quit the team, Smith still averaged nearly 10 ppg and 5 rpg.
Simply put, this kid is no slouch down low.
What does this mean to Georgetown and their hopes of becoming Big East champions this season? A lot. Pair him alongside some other lanky bigs like Mikael Hopkins, Bradley Hayes and Moses Ayegba, and now Georgetown has some big time depth at center. Putting Smith alongside two great wings in D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera and Markel Starks gives them a pure "big three" of sorts on the court.
Smith gives the Hoyas another dimension down low. John Thompson III can use him as a pure bully on the court. Also, using him on the offensive end to get offensive rebounds and tip-ins is another asset he could bring to Georgetown right away. If there is somebody would be able to move this 350-pounder, let me know, because I do not see one being able to out-muscle him in the Big East.
This changes the landscape at the top of the Big East just a little bit. Georgetown adds a bruiser down low, which makes their case to claim the conference's top spot that much better.
Safe to say, if I had a vote, Georgetown is my top team in the conference with Smith in the mix now. Smith being eligible immediately is huge (all 350 pounds of him) and makes the Hoyas a much bigger threat not only in the Big East, but in the entire country.