Devonta Pollard: 10 Reasons Top Basketball Recruit Needs to Pick Georgetown

One of the top-ranked basketball recruits in the class of 2012 is Davonta Pollard from Kemper County High School in Mississippi.

Pollard is still undecided as to which college he will attend, but according to reports, he has narrowed his choices to Alabama, Georgetown, Missouri and Texas.

Here are ten reasons why the 6'7" senior should attend Georgetown in the fall.

No disrespect to the head coaches at any of the other programs that Devonta Pollard is considering, but John Thompson III is among the elite coaches in NCAA basketball.

He has a record of 139-62 in his six seasons for the Georgetown Hoyas and has guided the team to the postseason every year in the ultra-competitive Big East.

Thompson is a proponent of a quick style of play, which he learned from Pete Carril while coaching at Princeton University.

He has coached a number of players that have been drafted—notably Roy Hibbert and Greg Monroe—which should provide Pollard the confidence that Thompson III can take his ability to the next level. 

The Big East is one of the best conferences in college basketball. They feature perennial contenders Syracuse, St. John's, UConn and Marquette.

If Pollard is to develop into the player he seems capable of becoming, he will need the battle testing that comes from playing in the Big East.

Georgetown is a solid program but must fire on all cylinders in order to compete with Syracuse and other Big East opponents that annually sign top recruits.

By adding a 5-star talent such as Pollard, they have the opportunity to win with an elite scorer rather than with balance and depth.

The Verizon Center holds over 20,000 spectators and has an electric atmosphere.

It was recently selected to host the 2013 Men's NCAA Basketball Regionals for the sixth time since the stadium's inception.

If Pollard decides to attend Georgetown, he will become an icon and will invigorate the arena and the fan base the way Roy Hibbert did during his tenure.

Georgetown has finished over. 500 every season during the tenure of Thompson III but is still looking to return to the Final Four for the first time since 2007.

The Hoyas will receive an immediate boost from Pollard, who will experience the love of the Hoyas loyal fan base.

At this point in his development, Pollard's best asset may be his versatility and elite athleticism.

At the next level, it will be determined whether he will be an above average-sized small forward or a power forward with the ability to shoot.

In the Georgetown system, which is extremely dependent on ball movement and quickness, Pollard could fit in very well.

Pollard's quickness caught the eye of many scouts. Some described his ability to get down court as appearing to have been "shot out of a cannon."

In a system which relies on cuts and ball movement, Pollard's athleticism could play very well.

The facts that his shooting ability is above average and that he is a high-intensity defensive player are bonuses that he brings to the table.

Despite finishing the season ranked No. 15 in the AP poll, Georgetown's offense was extremely mediocre. They ranked 145th in the nation in points per game and 100th in assists. 

The team's leading scoring from last season, Jason Clark, averaged 13.9 points per game but has gone on to graduate. 

The offense will need a significant boost if they hope to make a deep run in the tournament, and Pollard can at least be a playmaker with his ability to create shots.

As a freshman, he may not have the immediate impact of a Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but he will have time to develop into more of a premier scoring threat.

Georgetown did not add any other 5-star prospects from the 2012 recruiting class, but they were able to add one 4-star prospect.

His name is D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, and should Pollard sign with Georgetown, the two could form a dynamic duo.

Smith-Rivera is one of the top high school guards in the country, and coach Thompson values him highly.

The 6'3" guard could provide an immediate boost, and he can join a long list of players who have transitioned from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia to have illustrious collegiate and NBA careers.

There are only a few programs who have been able to develop more impact NBA players than Georgetown University.

Some of the more notable Hoyas who moved on to NBA stardom include Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutumbo, Alonzo Mourning and Roy Hibbert. 

Georgetown has done a terrific job of preparing players to play at the next level. From the perspective of a 5-star basketball recruit, there is not much more to ask of a college program.

Pollard will have the opportunity to become a more polished player and can potentially enter the NBA draft after refining his skills at the collegiate level.

As it stands, Georgetown is an extremely young team that did not possess much offense last season. 

The 2011-12 roster featured only two seniors, which—on paper—seems to make this year one of transition.

The national champion Kentucky Wildcats, however, proved that a team can be carried by freshmen and sophomores—provided that those young players are tremendously talented. 

Many of the freshman and sophomores on Georgetown last season did not contribute significantly. As of now, Hollis Thompson will be the prime scoring threat for the Hoyas. He averaged 12.8 points per game last season on 46.4 percent shooting.

Aside from Thompson, there is no telling who can step up and replace its leading scorer from a year ago, but Pollard could provide the boost necessary to improve Georgetown's offensive output next season. 

Players that are able to star in the nation's capital generally receive a great deal of attention. 

This dates back to the days of Frank Howard of the Senators and the Bullets Wes Unseld.

If Pollard becomes a significant player for the Hoyas, he will receive a great deal of buzz from the media.

While Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson were starring for the Hoyas, they were nearly as popular as some NBA stars, which should certainly appeal to Pollard. 

Any student-athlete must recognize the aspect of academics being a priority.

When a player is deciding where to play collegiately, the quality of the school's education should be at the forefront of his decision making.

Georgetown University is a private institution that was founded in 1789 and still features many of the original characteristics of the campus.

The university is regarded as one of the most respected institutions in the nation.

If given the opportunity to gain a college education as well as contribute to a basketball program's rich tradition, that student-athlete should be eager to seize the opportunity.