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NCAA Basketball: 6 biggest breakout candidates for 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer and former Georgetown Hoyas player Patrick Ewing is introduced as the Georgetown Hoyas' new head basketball coach John Thompson Jr. Athletic Center on April 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer and former Georgetown Hoyas player Patrick Ewing is introduced as the Georgetown Hoyas' new head basketball coach John Thompson Jr. Athletic Center on April 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 09: James Akinjo #3 of the Georgetown Hoyas shoots a three point basket against Ed Morrow #30 and Sam Hauser #10 of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the second half of the game at Fiserv Forum on March 09, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 09: James Akinjo #3 of the Georgetown Hoyas shoots a three point basket against Ed Morrow #30 and Sam Hauser #10 of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the second half of the game at Fiserv Forum on March 09, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Georgetown Hoyas

While Patrick Ewing hasn’t led the Hoyas to an NCAA Tournament appearance in the first two years of his tenure as head coach, Georgetown has exceeded expectations during each of those rebuilding seasons. Now, Ewing has a roster talented enough to truly compete in the Big East, and it starts in the backcourt.

James Akinjo and Mac McClung both proved to be quality offensive threats as freshmen with each averaging over 13 points per game. Akinjo also demonstrated deft playmaking touch, as he led the Big East in assists with 5.3 per game. I think his ability to create for himself and others has him primed to be an individual breakout star, and having McClung by his side gives this offensive unit plenty of firepower. They do have to answer questions on the defensive end where a lack of size (Akinjo is 6-foot, McClung is 6-2) limits their effectiveness, but that duo can be lethal offensively.

As good as Akinjo and McClung were, Georgetown’s leading scorer a year ago was big man Jessie Govan, who graduated. The Hoyas won’t feel the full weight of his departure, though, thanks to NC State transfer Omer Yurtseven. Now eligible after sitting out all last season, the 7-foot Turkey native has a deft offensive touch (13.5 ppg for the Wolfpack in 2017-18) with range extending out to the three-point line.

Having him in the frontcourt will balance out Georgetown’s offensive attack with a true Big 3 and won’t allow opponents to overload the paint or the perimeter.

Of course, Georgetown is much more than just those three stars. They also return starters Josh LeBlanc and Jamorko Pickett along with a number of key reserves. Throw in a trio of impact arrivals in UCF grad transfer Terrell Allen, former four-star prospect and JUCO commit Galen Alexander, and three-star center Qudus Wahab, and the Hoyas have plenty of depth as well.

Those rotational players give Georgetown a really high floor – they have too many talented players to be terrible this year. Their ability to break through and become a top 25-caliber team is dependent on their Big 3 – particularly Akinjo and McClung – becoming more efficient, which I think they will be in their second season on campus.

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