One of the interesting aspects of the Kenner League is you never know who will back in town ready to hit the hardwood. This past Saturday former Hoyas star Greg Monroe, coming off a successful rookie season with the Detroit Pistons, returned to McDonough Arena for summer basketball action.

Monroe is also back on campus to take classes toward getting his degree in Theology. Though his short-term future is a touch uncertain due to the NBA lockout, his immediate plans included playing with a couple of the current Hoyas. 

Before discussing his potential professional options – including playing overseas – and the one place he made sure to visit upon his return, Monroe put on his analyst hat to breakdown the current Georgetown roster…

Georgetown Patch: You played on the same team with Nate Lubick and Aaron Bowen on Saturday. Put on your analyst hat and give us your take on the power forward and wing guard respectively?

Greg Monroe: [Nate Lubick is] versatile, can step outside and hit a jump shot. He’s very good in the post, is a great passer. Really has a polished game.

Aaron is a shooter, he can knock down shots. He’s athletic, can get out and run. He makes moves off the dribble. Those are two guys definitely will help the team.

GP: How was it just being out there on the court today?

GM: “It felt good just to be playing organized basketball again.”

GP: Now that you are going through a lockout of your own, does it give you new perspective on the NFL situation?

GM: “It’s tough on those guys. They just want to play football. For them, it’s less time than we have, their season starts before ours. That’s their job, that’s their life. I’m pretty sure those guys want to be playing football. They don’t have something else they’d rather be doing.”

GP: With the uncertainty over when – or if – the NBA season will start, some NBA players have already made the move to play overseas. DaJaun Summer, your former teammate with the Hoyas and Pistons, is among them. Do you think we’ll see more players head overseas?

GM: “If nothing changes, I definitely think you’ll see a lot more guys go overseas.”

GP: What about you?

GM: “It’s something I’m still thinking about. It’s definitely one of my options.”

GP: A little over a year ago you were still a student here. Now you’ve had a season in the NBA, seen a lot. Does it feel any different being back now?

GM: “It doesn’t feel different at all. I’ve seen people I know, people I've known for a long time. It doesn’t feel different at all.”

GP: Back in town, have you done anything in Georgetown that you’ve been looking forward too?

GM: (Big smile)…“I had a Burger Madness from Wisemiller's, a sandwich shop right off campus. [What’s on your burger?] “Burger on a sub, chopped up, bacon and cheese.”

GP: Back to that analyst thing. What’s your take on the Hoyas five freshman, including the four 6-foot-8 big men?

GM: “I wouldn’t say four big men. Greg [Whittington] can definitely play on the wing. I haven’t seen Otto [Porter] play that much, but the other two guys [Mikael Hopkins and Tyler Adams] are obviously big men.

"And there is Jabril [Trawick]. I like the way they play. They all play hard and they’re playing well together. That’s a good thing

“I like Jabril. He’s never in a rush. That’s something with a point guard that’s always helpful, someone that’s calm and never in a rush.”

GP: As many wins as the Hoyas picked up last season, they weren’t the most athletic group. It looks like these kids should change that perception.

GM: “Yeah, they will. They are pretty big time athletes.”

GP: If we help you get the band back together – you, Austin Freeman, Chris Wright, Julian Vaughn, Jason Clark – to play the freshman, what happens?

GM: [Laughing]…“It wouldn’t be pretty. They’re good, but they’re not ready to play against us.”