Player Previews: The Returners

We are officially in the transfer portal era and players are jumping ship quicker than ever before. And with the players seeming to commit more to a coach than a school, when Georgetown fired Patrick Ewing, it was no surprise when nine of the twelve scholarship players with remaining eligibility entered the portal. But now, those three upperclassman holdovers are poised to play significant roles for the Hoyas this year. And while questions remain surrounding Cooley’s first roster and how the Ewing-trio will fit in, we’re here to shed some light on what to expect from Jay Heath, Wayne Bristol Jr. and Ryan Mutombo.

Jay Heath, Guard

Jay Heath returns to the Hilltop for his graduate year poised to lead the Hoyas as the team’s elder statesman. After starting in 18 of the 22 games in which he was eligible during his first season at Georgetown, he will hope to build on his strong play by bringing more consistency to his game under Ed Cooley and the new staff.

It is by no means an overstatement to call Jay Heath one of the best players on last year’s roster. While he might not have had the flashy performances of Primo Spears or the highlight dunks like Brandon Murray, he was arguably the team’s most versatile player, scoring at all three levels and playing multiple positions in the backcourt when necessary. While the most notable part of his game is his outside shooting, making 37% on over 100 attempts, he was one of a select few players who consistently showed effort on both sides of the ball. 

While his numbers were not bad, expect a different look from Jay Heath this year. Last year he was this team’s failsafe – when the rest of the team either wasn’t producing or was not trying altogether, the ball was put in Heath’s hands. This year, he won’t see that type of usage. Instead, look for Heath to be more of a support piece. As the veteran on this team, Ed Cooley will expect him to play with a level of maturity that, although he might still put up 12 shots per game, will not necessarily feel forced. Heath should be able to play within himself more and Cooley should allow him to play to his strengths, like his ability to knock down shots.

Overall, Jay Heath will still be one of the Hoyas’ go-to guys. He will start and get a solid chunk of minutes every night, but look for him to support the more explosive players around him.

— Brin Lewis

Wayne Bristol Jr., Guard

After transferring across town from Howard during the 2021-2022 season and sitting out the rest of that year, Wayne Bristol Jr. played his first full season with the Hoyas last year. While his play was inconsistent and, at times, underwhelming, the former MEAC Freshman of the Year enters his senior season with hopes of finally finding his groove on the Hilltop.

Although Bristol didn’t quite meet expectations last year, we know his game will continue to center around his shooting. While his shooting splits dipped last year, only shooting 31% from behind the arc, Bristol is still a career 39% three point shooter. A reason for this could have been the team’s lack of an offensive scheme and overall dependence on three pointers when trailing. Even though his shooting numbers were not horrible, Bristol is significantly better than that and his numbers should reflect that this year. 

With that being said, look for other aspects of his game to improve as Bristol moves into a larger role. While his defense was not necessarily notable, over the offseason we heard reports that his quickness and agility took strides forward. This should translate into a more well rounded play style, especially when it comes to his defense. Additionally, look for Bristol to attack the basket more. While he is not known for his play off the dribble, his increased role should give him more opportunities outside of sitting in the corner, waiting for the ball to come his way.

Ultimately, expect to see a lot more of Wayne Bristol this season. Just the fact that the new coaching staff did not push him out like they did with some other members of last year’s team tells us that there is more in store for him this year. With a thin roster and new offensive and defensive schemes, we should not be surprised to see him on the floor for upwards of 20 minutes a game. And while he most likely will be coming off the bench behind guys like Jay Heath and Dontrez Styles, if he takes the expected steps forward, he will be an important piece for the Hoyas this season.

— Armen Haratunian

Ryan Mutombo, Center

Ryan Mutombo is the longest tenured (scholarship) Hoya and is poised for a breakout season in year three. Over the past two years, the previous coaching regime never truly gave the former four-star a fair shot. But entering his junior season, Georgetown’s frontcourt is paper thin and the rest of the Big East is filled with big, talented centers that will make it difficult for the Hoyas to play small. The new staff will almost be forced to give Mutombo the opportunity to show his improvements from the last few years.

While we only saw it in brief flashes in the past, he’s more than capable of making plays with the ball in his hands. When he decides to attack the basket, his size makes him difficult to contest, and his ability to knock down a mid range shot from time to time can keep the defense honest. He is also one of the only rim protectors on this team, making him essential to Cooley’s defensive strategy. Additionally, while he has the size to play a more physical game, he has seemed timid in the past. If he can use his size on both sides of the ball we will be looking at a completely different Ryan Mutombo who will be much more fit to play against the other Big East bigs.

After watching him drop 25 points in a Kenner League playoff game this summer, I left McDonough Gymnasium excited to watch Ryan play this year (he was my vote for Kenner League MVP, sorry Rowan). Even though he will almost certainly be coming off the bench behind Supreme Cook, Mutombo will be one of many X-factors for the Hoyas this season. I wouldn’t expect him to get more than 15 minutes a game, but if he can play up to expectations we might be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

We’ve all been waiting for the Ryan Mutombo breakout and in my opinion, the waiting will be over this year.

– Matthew Strong