Four-star PG staying home

Markel Starks won't be going very far for college. In fact, won't even have to worry about wearing a new jersey when he plays his first college game.

The 6-foot, 157-pound point guard from Georgetown Prep in Maryland has committed to Georgetown, according to his high school coach Dwayne Bryant.

"He sure did," Bryant said of his star player's decision to pledge to John Thompson, III.

Starks, the star of the Little Hoyas, visited the Big East school on Wednesday and decided to end his recruitment early. The four-star prospect is the first player to commit to the Hoyas in the class of 2010.

Starks also considered Virginia, Georgia, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt, Bryant said.

"My family and myself felt like it was the best opportunity as far as athletically and academically," Starks said. "We felt that it would prepare me for after basketball and as well as basketball. As a whole, we felt that it was the best option. I really can't pinpoint what [separated Georgetown]. With all of the other schools, they were great, but we felt that Georgetown was great for me."

Bryant, a former Georgetown player, said he believes Starks will be a good player in Thompson's style of play.

"I think he can be very successful in the system. He and I have talked about it before and I know [Thompson] and Markel have talked about it before too that it might be an adjustment for him early on because for us he's had to do a lot of different things. He's our primary scoring option as well as our facilitator. It will be an adjustment for him but he understands that," Bryant said.

"He knows what challenges are ahead of him and that's why I'm confident in his decision to go there because he understands all that is involved in that decision."

Starks said he will bring a do-whatever-it-takes mentality with him to college.

"I want to come in and contribute to the team in whatever I have to do. If it means shooting threes or waving a towel, I just want to come in and contribute," he said. "I'm not saying I want to be a benchwarmer but with my ability, I feel like I can come in and contribute early."

It didn't hurt that Georgetown is just minutes away from his home either. However, Starks said location wasn't the only reason why he picked the program.

"If Georgetown were three hours away, it would still be the perfect situation. Fortunately it's right here and I'm the most comfortable here," Starks said. "Sometimes in life you might have do things that are outside of your comfort zone and in this instance, I had to go with my gut."