Braswell staying home

Georgetown continues its recruiting momentum by landing its first commitment in the 2008 class. After landing five-star guard Austin Freeman and four-star guard Chris Wright, the Hoyas now have local product and Freeman teammate Chris Braswell, a five-star forward in his own right.

A standout player for powerhouse DeMatha High School of Hyattsville, Md., Braswell, 6-foot-8, 215-pound, made his pledge Monday night according to DeMatha head coach Mike Jones.

"Chris and his mom spoke with Coach Thompson tonight and he did commit," said Coach Jones. "There were times when Chris talked about going away for school, but his mom wanted him to stay close to home not only so she could watch him play but also so she could keep tabs on him and make sure he was taking advantage of his educational opportunities."

Braswell named three reasons he chose Georgetown early in his career.

"Basically, I'm looking forward to playing my last two years of high school ball without worrying about where I'm going to college," said Braswell. "Also, I made this commitment so my mom, grandmother, coaches and all the people who have helped me through life can easily watch me play without having to fly somewhere. And then if basketball doesn't workout for me after college, I'll have a great degree from a top school in an area where I can get a good job."

Along with his mother's desire for him to stay in the D.C. area, the Georgetown commitments from Freeman and Wright also played a big part in keeping Braswell home.

"Chris knows the guys going there in Austin (Freeman) and Chris Wright," said Jones. "Georgetown has some built in recruiters now with these local guys."

Braswell, the No. 12 ranked prospect in the class of 2008, emerged on the national scene at the Nike Hoop Jamboree prior to his sophomore year as a raw but very talented forward. After adjusting to the DeMatha system, Braswell is now achieving his potential with a more mature and disciplined approach to the game.

"Chris has become what everyone knew he could be," said Jones. "The key for him was embracing DeMatha and what the WAC is all about. Early in his career he could just dominate at times with his talent, but he has now embraced learning the game. The competition of summer ball and what he faces everyday at DeMatha has forced him to grow as a player."

Braswell concurs that the hard work has paid off and will continue to pay off as he improves his game.

"My game has gotten to a higher level with the hard work I've put in," Braswell said. "I have to keep working hard, though, because there are a lot of other players out there working hard.

"I really want to keep improving my mid-range shot. I also need to learn some more post moves and improve my dribble moves."

Syracuse, Connecticut, Virginia and Maryland were the other main contenders for Braswell's commitment.

Georgetown will continue to focus on recruiting the class of 2008 with targets such as Jason Clark, Samardo Samuels, Ed Davis and Drew Gordon.

If there is enough movement in the roster to open up a scholarship in the spring for the 2007 class, the Hoyas will look towards four-star big man Anthony McClain, who is expected to wait until the spring to make a decision.

Chris Braswell scouting report:

Skilled both away from the basket and in the paint, Braswell scores around the basket with his quick feet and strong frame. Along with his developing post up game, Braswell is active on the boards, gets the ball quickly to the rim on open court dunks. He is also effective in the short corner and elbow area as a scorer and passer.