Update on . . . Chris Braswell

Georgetown will have to wait an extra year to get Hargrave Military Academy (VA) forward Chris Braswell. The stud senior big man will post-grad for a year prior to heading to the NCAA. The gentle giant will stay at the same school, and his reasoning for choosing to post-grad is just to "better [himself] for another year." The decision, which was made "about two weeks ago," included input from Chris "mom, [AAU coach] Steve Stevens, and [his] grandmother." Fans of the Hoyas have nothing to worry about, though, as Braswell still plans on playing for John Thompson III for his college ball. In fact, I asked whether other players committing there in the class of 2009, such as recent commit DaShonte Riley, would impact his decision: "I'm going there, period. It don't matter if anybody else [is] going there. . . . Nobody else [is] going to change my mind on what school I want to go to." As for JT III's opinion on Chris' decision, Braswell told me that the coach thought "it would be kind of better for me . . . become more prepared for college, . . . doing another year here wouldn't really hurt me." While at Hargrave, Chris is mainly planning on getting "more moves in . . . [the] low post, stepping out a little bit. . . mid-range [game] . . . work on [his] handling." Hargave won the Prep National Championships this season, and will have a legitimate chance at repeating the feat next year, and another undefeated season may not be out of the question either. Although the squad will lose a few players, including Mississippi St.-bound Dee Bost, Head Coach Kevin Keatts' squad will be bringing in at least a couple of impact transfers: DeShawn Painter and, according to Braswell, recent Indiana-commit "Maurice Creek," will being playing in Chatham next year as well. Next season, Chris wants to "hopefully get another ring." I inquired of Braswell how it would be playing down on the post with Painter, a stud member of the class of 2009, and he told me this: "[I] can't pre-determine it too much, but it'll be a good low post area. . . . We'll make it work, we'll start becoming a family." The team certainly has the capability to repeat as national champs, and Chris Braswell will be a main part of the team's ability to do so. Then, he will try to help the Georgetown Hoyas make a run for a national title. Although Chris Braswell's choice to wait an extra year before going to college, he will only be stronger, bigger, and flat-out better.