WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University men's basketball team participated in the 2020 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Virtual Media Day on Wednesday. Following remarks from BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman, Head Coach Patrick Ewing and the rest of the conference's head coaches addressed the media in separate zoom sessions. Senior Jamorko Pickett and sophomore Qudus Wahab also spoke with the media in the afternoon.
 
Ackerman announced the establishment of  the John Thompson Jr. Award by the BIG EAST Conference with the approval of the Thompson family. Additionally, the league announced a December schedule that included only dates and opponents with times and broadcast information to come at a later date.
 
JOHN THOMPSON JR. AWARD

• The John Thompson Jr. Award will recognize significant efforts to fight prejudice and discrimination and advance positive societal change.
• The award will annually honor a BIG EAST athletics department, team or individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, perseverance and/or creativity in promoting an environment of inclusiveness or championing the end of discrimination, racism and bigotry.
• The annual John Thompson Jr. Award winner will be determined by a selection committee made up of representatives from the BIG EAST's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Working Group, a member of the Thompson family, and others designated by BIG EAST Presidents.
• The 2021 recipient will be determined following the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year.
• GU's Hall of Fame coach who passed away on August 30, was a national leader and fierce advocate for racial equity and social justice - one of the first Black head coaches at a major Division I program when he was hired in 1972, he was known for protecting his players from the racism and bigotry they faced from opposing fans and the world at large. He famously walked out in protest over NCAA Proposition 42 in 1989 as he found the rule to be unfairly attacking opportunities for Black youth to receive an education.

 
DECEMBER BIG EAST SCHEDULE

• The BIG EAST announced its December slate of games for the 2020-21 season, with the Hoyas facing off against four opponents.
• The Hoyas open BIG EAST play with a home game against Villanova on Friday, December 11. Two days later, the Hoyas will play host to UConn on Sunday, December 13.
• The final two games for the Hoyas will be on Sunday, December 20 with a road trip to St. John's, followed by a road game at Seton Hall on Wednesday, December 23.

 
ON THE RECORD
Head Coach Patrick Ewing
On the John Thompson Jr. Award ...
"I think it is a great thing. He was an important part of my life, starting from when I first came to Georgetown - when he first started recruiting me - to the day he died. He has always been a person that I could pick up the phone and talk to, call or give any advice that I might need. He helped shape my coaching career. He is definitely someone that I will definitely miss and I think it is a great honor for the BIG EAST to have this award in his name and the things he fought for over the course of his life.
 
On plans for Election Day ...
"For Election Day, we are going to be off. One of the things I have been talking to all my guys about is making sure that they vote. I have already voted, some of my coaches have already voted, some of the guys have already voted. I want to make sure that they vote. There have been a lot of people who have given their lives for us to have this opportunity and we need to make sure that we take advantage of it."
 
On the freshmen and the opportunities for them to play early in the season …
"There is going to be options for everybody to play. Everyone is going to have an opportunity. Is it going to be early or is going to be late? That is yet to be determined. When we spoke in one of the first questions, we got to campus late so other people are ahead of us in terms of being able to have the opportunity to start working with their teams earlier. We got there later. It is still a work in progress."
 
Senior Jamorko Pickett
On John Thompson Jr.'s legacy and the John Thompson Award ...
"I think, coming from Georgetown and the big deal surrounding the passing of Coach Thompson is huge and holds a lot of weight. We want to go as far as we can this year in honor of his passing. As [Qudus Wahab] said, he has been a father figure to a lot of players that have come through here and he has given me a lot of encouraging speeches to help lift me at times that I was done or started to not believe in myself or what was going on here at Georgetown."
 
On his role and the versatility of the team this year…
"I think I pretty much can play every position. Maybe not point guard or center, but 2, 3 or the 4 I think. It is pretty much the matchups and how [Coach Ewing] feels that we should be playing ... This is a very versatile team, we have a lot of different guys that can play a lot of different positions."
 
Sophomore Qudus Wahab
On playing for a former center in Patrick Ewing …
"It has been great. I have been learning a lot from him since last year. Defensively, he's telling me what to do. Offensively, he's telling me what to do. I have been watching a lot of his tapes just to learn more from him. It has been great so far."
 
On John Thompson Jr.'s legacy and the John Thompson Award ...
"It says a lot because John Thompson has been a great father figure to a lot of players that have come to this school. It's just a great way to honor him this year and play for him."
 
On taking precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic ...
"For me, it just reminds me of what Coach says - 'we have to be unselfish.' The COVID-19 rules like wearing a mask and saying six feet apart. Just not to jeopardize the season because of any positive tests or anything like that. So we have just tried to do that for the past few months and it has been good so far."