The 2019-2020 Georgetown Hoyas had some of the most beloved Georgetown players in recent memory, including senior forward George Muresan. As a walk-on, Muresan saw limited minutes during his first three years on the Hilltop. With the Hoyas’ roster depleted due to transfers and injuries, Muresan became a meaningful contributor in his senior season. We recently sat down with George to talk about life after graduation, what it’s like to be a walk-on at Georgetown, his relationship with his brother, and much, much more.
Editor’s Note: This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Jack: To start off, how have things been for you since graduation? What have you been up to?
George: It’s been obviously a strange world, a strange period of my life. These are times where big decisions are made and careers are molded and stuff like that, so after graduation, I got a job in New York. Obviously I’m not in New York [now]… I’m working remotely at my house in Maryland as a software engineer. And then I’m continuing my education at Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies, and I’m getting my technology management masters up there as well. So honestly that’s just been keeping me busy for a long time. I haven’t touched a ball for like six months just because I needed a break from it after going hard for four years. I’m excited to still be in the Georgetown community and meeting a new set of people that I normally wouldn’t ever meet, which I’m really appreciative about. Honestly I just miss being on campus and having that feeling.
Jacob: What do you miss most about Georgetown? What was your favorite part of the Georgetown experience off the basketball court?
George: This is strange, but I went there last week, and honestly the little walks between classes and seeing all these different faces of people that you know and stuff … honestly that was crazy. I went there last week and no one was on campus, and it was just kind of strange. Even though we were there every winter break and it was a ghost town every winter break, I loved that time period because, you know, I didn’t have to deal with anyone. But now I’m back, and I really miss that. Just stuff like that, interactions like that, that later in life you don’t get to experience just [being] on campus there, so within the four years, I definitely miss that.
Jack: You came to Georgetown and walked on to the basketball team. Can you tell us a little more about what that experience was like as a walk-on?
George: I’ve gotten that question asked before, and I can’t tell you any other way because I was never treated any other way. And I have friends who have played with walk-ons at other schools and stuff, and it was like a whole other category of players and roles. I was fortunate that at Georgetown, that culture was just never a thing. It was always just one team, and that’s all that mattered.
Jacob: Last season there were a lot of ups and downs for the team. What was it like for you personally, stepping into that role as a member of the rotation… after not seeing a lot of minutes your first three years on campus?
George: I was just confident. Not because of my ability, but also because of the people who I was with and the coaches I was with that prepared me for that. They coached me in such a way to give me the mentality to be ready, and that’s a huge difference because coaches can coach you just to coach you, but they can also give you the mentality to fulfill a role like that, which I did. You know, we went through a lot of stuff, but at the same time, I was ready to go.
Jacob: You mentioned the coaching staff being helpful in giving you that confidence in yourself. Was there anyone particularly you looked up to on the coaching staff?
George: I looked up to everyone. I mean I bumped heads with a lot of the coaches, but every coach provided a different piece to add to my game or gave me advice or thought behind everything I do. I couldn’t say one in particular. I would say I did my best to learn from all of them because I respect all of them.
Jack: What was your favorite career moment as a Hoya?
George: I would say the DePaul game, when I made the free throws, that was crazy. Just because that’s when I saw a lot of love. Not necessarily like it was love out of nowhere, but that was awesome.
Jack: Can you walk us through what was going through your head during that sequence at the end of the game?
George: I knew it was gonna happen [smiles]. I talked after the game with some of the guys from the bench, and it was crazy. I mean I wasn’t thinking obviously, I was just there. I was just playing, and again, it was just that mentality of just being prepared and that’s all that there is. I’m very fortunate. I mean we won the game, and I was just happy to be a part of it.
Jacob: Earlier this fall, we sat down with Jagan [Mosely] and had one of these discussions with him. We wanted to hear a little bit about your relationship with Jagan. What was it like to go through those ups and downs together and what was your relationship like as the two graduating seniors?
George: It was crazy because when we first got to Georgetown, one of the coaches said, because it was only us two, they were like, “you come in together, but many times you don’t leave together.” And that’s just because people transfer, people go wherever, stuff happens. It is what it is. But we came and left together, which is crazy to say. We saw a lot and definitely got a lot closer. Going through all this, it was really cool seeing Jagan develop as a leader and as a player and as a person. He’s a good guy.
Jack: Your father [Gheorghe Muresan] was obviously a former NBA player. Can you talk a little bit about what that was like growing up with him and how much of an impact he had on your basketball career?
George: He never forced it on me, which is cool. I grew up playing soccer, and I even played lacrosse in high school. I love to try new things and building skills in sports. He’s from Romania, he’s never heard of lacrosse. I wanted to try to branch out, and he’s always let me branch out and go on my own adventures. But I kind of always stuck with basketball, and I knew that was the future I wanted to take. Obviously I stopped playing basketball, but basketball brought me a lot of opportunities and made me meet a lot of people like you guys that I would have never met. He told me in high school that basketball has the ability to give me these opportunities, so that was one of the best pieces of advice he ever gave me.
Jack: Your brother is a freshman on the team now. What’s that been like for you? Can you share with us any specific advice that you gave him?
George: After being with certain people for four years, I know what they’re going to say and what their styles are. So before he went back to training- obviously with COVID everything’s kind of, it’s rough as a college basketball player right now- but I would give him advice to tell him exactly what he needs to do and what’s expected of him. And seeing his transition for high school to Georgetown, I made sure that he meets what Georgetown looks for and everything, as a basketball player, but also as a person. Obviously not well-rounded people don’t last on the Georgetown team, and it builds men and I’m fortunate he’s on the team as well. But yeah, I gave him a lot of tips on coaches and things they like to do and stuff like that.
Jacob: How were the games growing up between the two of you? Did you always win or did your brother ever beat you?
George: So like, yeah, I would always win, and then something happened. I don’t know what happened; he got some confidence or something. It was crazy. One summer he asked me to play one-on-one, and I was like, “alright, let’s do it.” It got really competitive, and I’m like, “dude, what are you [doing]?”
Nah, I mean people always say that we’re kinda the same person. We have the same build kind of. He’s just a little slimmer. Definitely the same play style and more competitive between us when we do face each other. I just wish I had the opportunity to play with him on a team; Never had that opportunity because of the age difference, but it is what it is.
Jacob: Yeah, that would have been cool to watch. Outside of your brother, have you been in contact with any of the current players on the team or with Coach Ewing?
George: Yeah I have. It’s just hard now. Georgetown’s in a bubble, and they’re doing the best with everything to comply with all the COVID rules and everything that I know of. They’re doing a really good job. I know they had a couple of games canceled, but compared to other teams who have had almost half of their seasons cancelled, they’re taking everything seriously. That’s what I expect of Georgetown to be doing anyways. But yeah, I’ve talked to some people and seen how the season’s going and what not, and obviously following [along].
Jack: Could you describe Coach Ewing’s coaching style?
George: [pauses] He’s loud. [pauses again] It’s very different from any coach that I’ve ever had, because whatever he’s teaching, he’s done. And what he’s done is obviously top-level NBA, you know what I mean? [pauses] Yeah, he’s a great leader by example and he shows us exactly what- he points the team in the direction he sees that the next level looks at. Definitely never had a coach like him. He’s the example of [how] he knows what he’s talking about. Everything he says, you can’t disagree because you’re like, “yeah, that’s how it is.” I mean he’s done it better than I’ll ever do it. In terms of plays, in terms of skills, in terms of moves, just watching him work with the big men- he’s definitely used that move before to score on Michael Jordan or something, you know what I mean? So it’s really awesome. It’s a very unique experience I feel like a lot of players don’t get to experience.
Jacob: Last year, the Georgetown community lost an icon in Coach Thompson. Did you have any meaningful or memorable interactions with him? Did he have an impact on you during your time on the Hilltop?
George: 100%. He was the man. He was a great man. He was a great leader. He touched so many peoples’ lives; an amount that no one will ever be able to touch, not in our generation. And he just provided that fatherly role and the leader and mentorship role to a lot, a lot, of people. He transformed a lot of lives- including my life- transformed a lot of lives that he may know, or he may not even know. I would see him around practice and stuff, and he had his little scooter or whatever. He would give us some speeches sometimes, and even after we lost all those guys, he gave a speech, and it was long, but everyone took that heart and learned from it. I feel like everyone developed a mentality around that speech and that really got us going through the rest of the season.
Jack: Going off of that, a lot of people talk about the family environment that surrounds Georgetown basketball. Would you say you experienced that during your time on the Hilltop?
George: Yeah, oh 100%. That’s a guarantee. I kind of knew I didn’t want to play basketball after college; I knew that my career was gonna end that last game. And I was really focused on school, so one thing that I love that Ewing and everyone else knew- the whole family knew- is that’s what I’m doing, that’s what I’m studying for. Besides basketball, I have another job, and that’s to be the best student I can be. Everyone understood that. Whether it was me missing practice for a lab that I have that extends for another half an hour. Everyone understands what my mission is besides basketball, which obviously helped me out tremendously.
Because you can go to a school where the coach- he doesn’t care how you’re studying, or what classes you’re taking, or stuff like that. He just cares about you being a basketball player, and that’s it. And luckily I was at a school where that was not the case. And here I am.
Jacob: Shoutout to local businesses. Did you have any go-to food spots in the Georgetown area?
George: You know, &pizza, man. I was there a lot. &pizza, Falafel [Inc.], Wawa- I’m so glad they came. Stachowski’s- I don’t know if you guys know about that. Do you guys know about that?
Jacob: I’ve heard about it, but never been.
George: Go there.
Jacob: What’s your order there? What sandwich do you get?
George: I went there my sophomore year or my junior year with Trey Mourning. And we went up to the register, and Trey Mourning was like, “What’s a sandwich that will put us to sleep?” I think it was like a roast beef, and it was huge, it was amazing, I loved it. I love Stachowski’s. So definitely check that out!
Jack: What are your thoughts on the new uniforms this year? Are you a fan?
George: They’re okay. Yeah, no I love them. I never was like a uniform [guy]- what’s your number? What’s your uniform? I love the blue ones always; those were my favorite ones. But I was never really into uniforms and apparel and stuff. I was just happy to be there. But yeah, I think they’re cool. Also, the camera angle at McDonough is weird, I’m not gonna lie. It’s very strange seeing it and not the Capital One [Arena]. But I’ve seen them [the uniforms] on Instagram or whatever and now they seem really cool.
Jack: And what about the teal uniforms? You guys wore those a lot over the last two years, and they’ve worn them once or twice this year. Do you like the teal uniforms?
George: Yeah, those are cool. I don’t even know if that’s a Georgetown color or whatever- I don’t know the history behind all that. But yeah, I think those are sick, I’m not gonna lie. When I first saw them, I was kind of confused. I was like, “you got the wrong blue in there,” but nah, it was pretty cool.
Jack: Yeah, that’s the ongoing debate of “Is it a Georgetown color or not?”
George: I mean it should be, I don’t know. I’m into them. I think they’re cool. Provides a little flair.
Huge thank you to George Muresan for taking the time to speak with us! A true fan favorite and a real pleasure to interview. Best of luck with all your future endeavors, George!
