D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera considered putting his name into the NBA Draft after Georgetown’s disappointing loss to Utah in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
But when he had time to settle down and think it over, the 6-foot-3 guard reversed course and opted to return to Georgetown for his senior season.
“I considered it a lot,” Smith-Rivera, who averaged 16.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season, told SNY.tv by phone on Thursday. “It was a big decision that boiled down to myself and what I felt was best for me. And I think at the end of the day I made the right decision based off of getting my degree and being a with a great group of guys, a special group that I think could very well turn that corner that everyone seems to talk about.”
Ah, yes, the corner.
Georgetown hasn’t been past the second round of the NCAA Tournament since reaching the Final Four in 2007.
In 2015, Georgetown lost to Utah in the second round.
In 2013, the Hoyas fell to Florida Gulf Coast in the first round.
And in 2012, they lost to N.C. State in the second round.
Yet entering this season, the Hoyas should be among the favorites to win the Big East Conference and have enough firepower to go deep into March Madness. Assuming they can overcome their recent struggles — or curse.
“I’m very motivated,” Smith-Rivera said of the upcoming season. “This being my last year it’s kind of like this is the perfect time to do it. That’s the biggest message I want to get across to the guys, is the years go by fast and this being my senior year, it felt like my freshman year was last year. I want it to be as big a deal for them as it is for me, being the last opportunity that I have to be a part of the March Madness in general and to make a run in the tournament.”
Georgetown is coming off a trip to Italy in which they went 3-1 despite the fact that Smith-Rivera didn’t play at all as head coach John Thompson III rested him from a minor ankle injury sustained during summer league.
Without him, 6-8 freshman forward Marcus Derrickson led the Hoyas in scoring at 14.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, junior wing Reggie Cameron averaged 11.8 and 3.5 and sophomore forward L.J. Peak went for 10.8 points per game.
Freshman big man Jessie Govan of New York averaged 8.3 points and 7.0 rebounds on the trip.
“He’s very mobile, can rebound when he wants to,” Smith-Rivera said of the 6-11 Govan, who led Wings Academy to the New York State Federation championship last season. “He’s a special talent. He just has to instill it in himself and bring it together.
“He has those moments when you can see the brilliance in his game, but he’s still a freshman and he has a ways to go. But I think right now he’ll be a great attribute along with [senior 7-footer] Bradley Hayes.”
“Definitely, I want to get down there and be a difference-maker,” he said. “Maybe get into a Final Four, just try to win games in the [NCAA] Tournament. Definitely make the Tournament every year but I’m there, but try to win games in the Tournament, that’s definitely a goal of mine.”
Govan figures to be in the mix for Big East Rookie of the Year honors along with Marquette’s Henry Ellenson and Villanova’s Jalen Brunson.
“[Govan] very well could be,” Smith-Rivera said. “It’s up to him. He has that capability and he has the talent to do it, so hopefully he does excel that much and it helps the team the right way.”
All of these ingredients have Smith-Rivera very optimistic about his senior year, where Georgetown should be picked along with Villanova as the favorites in the Big East.
Beyond that, he knows Georgetown won’t be fully redeemed without a run during March Madness to move past its earlier struggles.
“I’m ready for the year,” he said. “‘I’ve looked past it and I’m going into the year with a full head of steam and just trying to prepare my team.”
Photo: Getty Images
