SAN ANTONIO — The state of Maryland was represented in the championship game by three starters. Marvin Lewis, Tech’s senior guard and captain, is listed as being from Germantown, although he said his family now lives in Urbana. Tech sophomore point guard Jarrett Jack is from Fort Washington and Josh Boone, UConn’s freshman forward, is from Mount Airy.
Jack left the area after his freshman year at DeMatha and attended three other prep schools. Lewis attended St. John’s at Prospect Hall in Frederick before transferring to Montrose Christian in Rockville. Boone is a graduate of South Carroll High School in Carroll County.
“I was out in the woods,” Boone said.
At 6-10, 230 pounds, Boone helped give UConn a size advantage over Tech. After suffering an ankle injury, he has become a key component of the Huskies.
“Truthfully, when Josh got here I didn’t know he’d be this good,” UConn guard Ben Gordon said.
So much for predictions
Georgia Tech was picked to finish in the bottom half of the ACC this year. One preseason poll had the Yellow Jackets as low as seventh.
It wasn’t entirely farfetched. Tech was 16-15 in 2003. Then it lost two key players. Forward Ed Nelson, the 2002 ACC rookie of the year, transferred to UConn, of all places. And center Chris Bosh, the conference rookie of the year in 2003 and a second-team All-ACC selection, entered the NBA Draft. Toronto picked him No. 4 overall.
The loss of Bosh seemed to especially hurt, but center Luke Schenscher, among others, helped pick up the slack.
“I don’t think any of us questioned what he was doing,” Schenscher said. “I saw it personally as an opportunity to step up. I knew I had to step up if the team was to be successful. We needed someone to fill the void and I took it upon myself to make sure I could help the team out.”
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