The Future: Markel Starks

This is the fourth in a series previewing the 2010-2011 Hoyas.  For a complete look at this year’s team, go here.

Of the five members of this year’s freshman class, Markel Starks (6’1″, 175 lb.) faces perhaps the greatest disparity between present expectations and future obligations.  Three-year starter Chris Wright’s occupation of the point guard position and junior Jason Clark’s ability to spell Wright at the 1  means that any contributions the “Stark Plug” makes as a freshman will be gravy.  But with Wright and Austin Freeman departing campus after this season, Georgetown’s current guard-heavy alignment will shift, and the Hoyas soon will be relying heavily on Starks’s direction at the point.  Fortunately, the Georgetown Prep product looks like he’ll be ready.  Starks was rated the 15th-best point guard in the incoming freshman class, with scouts lauding his quickness and deep range.  Each characteristic was on display here:

and here:

He also seems like a solid kid, giving thoughtful interviews here and here.  Talent and poise will be necessary for Starks to become the Hoyas’ floor general of the future; the early signs, from this summer’s Kenner League, are that Starks will be able to translate each to the college level.   He showed off his explosive moves, deep 3s, and a point guard’s natural command of the floor, leading the Tombs team rather than deferring to his veteran teammate, Freeman.

Georgetown has enjoyed great stability at the point guard position, riding Jonathan Wallace for four years, followed by Chris Wright for the past two (plus the year to come), with Jessie Sapp bridging the two eras and Jason Clark linking Wright to Starks.  Wright served as his elders’ understudy for much of the 2007-2008 season, in part because of a foot injury.  Expect Starks also to serve a limited role in the year to come but, like Wright, take the reigns in his sophomore year.