Georgetown's Jessie Govan
There was a lot of excitement at Georgetown last April when the school announced it was bringing former Hoya legend Patrick Ewing back home to run the men’s basketball program.
But perhaps no one was more stoked at Ewing’s arrival than Jessie Govan.
“Oh yeah, I was really excited,” said Govan, the Hoyas’ 6-10, 270-pound junior center. “He’s a top 50 player of all time and he has succeeded at every level. He’s done everything that I’m trying to do with basketball, so I’m just trying to listen to everything he says. I’m just trying to be a sponge and take everything in and listen to everything he says because everything he says will benefit me.”
One of the benefits of being a prized Georgetown big man is having a former prized big man-turned head coach taking a keen interest in your growth as a player. That’s what’s happening to Govan with individualized workouts with Ewing. It’s something that is not only benefiting Govan, but the Hoyas program as well.
“He’s definitely shown me some stuff, showed me some tricks to get easy buckets,” said Govan, who averaged 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Hoyas last season. “And how to defend better because he was a great defender and that’s something I’m trying to work on more this year, my defense. He’s done a real good job with me. He’s really taken me under his wing and he doesn’t let me slack at all. So I’m just taking it one game at a time and trying to get us victories.”
So far, so good in that regard as Govan has posted double-doubles in each of Georgetown’s first three games this season, all victories, as his individual workouts with Ewing are paying some pretty handsome dividends.
In Georgetown’s 73-57 victory over Jacksonville in the season opener, Govan broke out of the season’s starting gate with a 20-point, 15-rebound performance. He followed that up with a 20-point, 14-rebound effort in Georgetown’s 102-68 victory over Mount St. Mary’s and finished his third game, an 83-57 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore, with a 23-point, 14-rebound outing. Govan is now averaging 21 points and 14.3 rebounds so far this season and has been named to the BIG EAST’s Honor Roll twice. His rebound average leads the league.
Just as a point of comparison, Govan’s three double-doubles to open the season match the number of double-doubles he posted all of last year.
“I’m just trying to take it one game at a time, really one possession at a time, and go my hardest every time,” Govan said. “And it’s been working so far.”
Govan admits there was something of an “awe” factor at first when he began his workouts with Ewing. But that soon passed and he now feels comfortable working with his new coach.
“Yeah definitely there was some awe at first,” Govan said. “He’s a Hall of Famer and that’s a big deal. I’m just trying to take everything in. The first time I saw him I was definitely star-struck but I’m used to it now. After about the first week, it was time to get down to business.”
Ewing stated at BIG EAST Media Day in October at Madison Square Garden that he was looking for Govan, along with junior forward Marcus Derrickson, to step up and take more of a leadership role with the Hoyas this season. Govan said now that he is a junior, he is ready for that role.
“These guys are looking up to me and coach has made it a point that I got to be one of the leaders of this team if we’re going to be successful,” Govan said. “So I just listen to him and make sure that we all come out strong every game.”
Georgetown has been home to many great big men over the past three decades or so, led by Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning. So could we now be seeing the early days of the next great Hoya big man in Govan, the one with the famous tutor?
“I hope so,” Govan said with a laugh. “I’m just trying to take it one game at a time and if everything works out then maybe I’ll be the next one on the list.”
The Hoyas were picked to finish ninth in the BIG EAST in the conference’s preseason poll. But off to a 3-0 start going into a Saturday game at Richmond, and with Govan upping his game a level or two, might Georgetown turn out to be better than expected in a year where even Ewing has been tempering expectations?
Govan thinks so.
“There’s definitely a different atmosphere around this year,” Govan said. “Everybody’s excited, so we’re trying to just get some more wins and be successful. Everybody is doubting us so we’re going to try to prove a lot of people wrong.”