Locally Grown

Throughout an unprecedented summer, head coach Jamion Christian has felt the excitement, a constant amid the uncertainty across Zoom team meetings, phone calls and group text chain.

Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 global pandemic, the GW men's basketball team has continued to push forward, entering its second season under Christian's leadership.

That attitude starts with a proven returning cast, led by tireless workers like Maceo Jack, Jamison Battle and Jameer Nelson Jr., and it helps that so many of the seven new additions are DMV – D.C., Maryland and Virginia – products eager to make an impact close to home in the World's Most Powerful City.

"I think sometimes when guys step into a program they're intimidated when your best players work, but when you're from the DMV, you know that's what it takes to be great, and you're not afraid to do the work," Christian said. "These guys didn't need a whole lot of direction from us, because they've grown up in an environment where they know what it takes to be the best. They just get to work."

Entering the 2020-21 season, Christian's roster features nine student-athletes hailing from the DMV, including five of the newcomers. The veteran coach has a lengthy track record of scouring the globe for prospects built to thrive in his MAYHEM system, but he wants to start in his own backyard, tapping into a hoops hotbed with a rich history of players succeeding at the highest levels.

These Colonials are Locally Grown with strong area roots and the drive to develop into something special no matter where they call home.

"Our goal is to do things that have never been done, and I believe getting these guys to stay home is a great start to that," Christian said. "We have ambitious goals, and you've got to have ambitious people with a strong personality that believe they can do things that have never been done."

Scanning the history of the program, GW has found success recruiting the DMV, notably securing all-time greats like Les Anderson, Kwame Evans, Shawnta Rogers and Chris Monroe to name just a few, but the Buff and Blue have not had this many local products at one time in recent memory.

A Virginia native, Christian has a deep appreciation for DMV hoops, and he's built strong recruiting ties around the region through his success scouting, signing and bringing out the best in local players over the past decade-plus. (His staff does as well, led by assistant coach Nima Omidvar, who began his coaching career working with DC Team Takeover on the local AAU scene.)

It's no secret that many memorable March Madness runs have been sparked by DMV talent, a testament to the support system in place to spark development from an early age and the high-level experience that sort of environment offers.

"For me, we have the best high school basketball coaches and players in the country right here," Christian said. "There's a fearlessness that's there with guys from the DMV that they can go and will go and beat anybody. You don't have to instill that in them. They've played against the best, and it's almost in their DNA when they're from the DMV."

Thanks to Christian's efforts on the recruiting trail, this group figures to have a healthy dose of that mentality.

All nine DMV products have been brought in since the coach's arrival with James Bishop (Baltimore, Md.), Ricky Lindo Jr. (Washington, D.C.), Lincoln Ball (Williamsport, Md.), Tyler Brelsford (Ellicott City, Md.) and Noel Brown (Leesburg, Va.) signing on this season to join holdovers Chase Paar (Mount Airy, Md.), Amir Harris (Frederick, Md.), Ace Stallings (Washington, D.C.) and Miles Gally (Rockville, Md.).

To Christian, the continued efforts to recruit locally represent a mission that goes well beyond the court. He's particularly passionate about connecting his student-athletes with alumni in the area through the program's mentoring initiative to set up opportunities for life after basketball, as well.

"It's about completing a cycle," Christian said. "I think if we keep our best players here, we educate them with one of the best educations in the world and then we're placing them back into our community better off, then we're really impacting our immediate community."

With the new season on the horizon, Christian will soon get the chance to return to the court with his Locally Grown group.

Through a summer of virtual activities, the Colonials have grown close, and they are ready to continue building that chemistry together in Foggy Bottom. It's by design that so many of them had short trips for move-in day.

"I'm just excited to have our guys all together in one space to get to work on our goals," Christian said. "Teams that grow together to play great basketball have a great appreciation for each other. You can't grow that appreciation until you're on the floor together, so I think that's really important for us to get that process started."

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Players Mentioned

Lincoln Ball

Jamison Battle

James Bishop IV

Tyler Brelsford

Noel Brown

Miles Gally

Amir Harris

Maceo Jack

Ricky Lindo Jr.

Jameer Nelson Jr.

Chase Paar

Ace Stallings