The loudest roar from the 15,844 in attendance at Verizon Center Tuesday night did not come when Washington Wizards star Antawn Jamison scored one of his 48 points, nor when the home team nearly rallied back to beat the visiting Orlando Magic in their final regular-season home game. Instead, the most boisterous cheers were reserved for halftime, when the Georgetown men’s basketball team was honored at center court for their historic season.
Beneath the banner honoring the 1984 national championship team, the 2007 Final Four squad stood on a red carpet and soaked in the applause that rained down on them. The team, who traded their Blue and Gray uniforms in favor of more formal duds for this trip onto the Verizon Center hardwood, waved to the crowd before retreating back to the luxury box where they watched the Magic’s 95-84 victory.
“It was really nice to be recognized,” junior forward Jeff Green said in a press release. “We play most of our home games here, and for the fans to thank us for the season we had really meant a lot to our team.”
No one seemed to be enjoying himself more than Green. Dressed in a pink dress shirt and green tie, the Big East player of the year flashed what may soon become his million-dollar-smile at halftime and urged the Wizards dance team to hurl a free T-shirt his way during a timeout promotion.
Tuesday night’s game provided Green and fellow junior Roy Hibbert an up-close-and-personal look at the professional game just days after both stars entered their names in the draft pool. The two members of the esteemed Hoya frontcourt have yet to hire agents, however, and both said Tuesday that chances were good that they would return for one last go around on the Hilltop.
Before the game, Hibbert was asked by a local television station whether he would be willing to play the second half for a Wizards team struggling without stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler. The 7-foot-2 center, who voiced his desire to be a future top overall pick, couldn’t help but laugh at the question.
Hibbert could not be reached for comment after watching former agic No. 1 draft pick Dwight Howard dismantle Wizards 7-footer Brendan Haywood for a double-double.
