2008 Woodie Awards
Athlete of the Week: Steve Georgoulis
Jacob Duhaime
Issue date: 12/16/04 Section: Sports
Last season, men's basketball forward Steve Georgoulis started to quietly pick up accolades and attention in the shadow of All-American Rob Hennigan.
This year, he is ready to take over Hennigan's spotlight.
"I'm not trying to fill his shoes," Georgoulis said. "I'm just playing basketball and doing everything I can to win games."
It is awfully hard to ignore the tremendous impact that the junior from New York has had on the first few games of the Lion's '04-'05 season. His 24 points and 10 boards helped lead the Lions to their first victory of the season against UMass-Boston. Another double-double performance helped Emerson win at Daniel Webster Dec. 4. He shot 8-10 from the field in a recent loss at Wheaton.
As of Sunday, Georgoulis is ranked number four in the Great Northeast Atlantic Conference (GNAC) in scoring, averaging a little over 19 points a game.
"Steve's really stepped up," senior captain Ryan Shibley. "He was a good player last year, but, this year, he's taken it to a whole new level."
For Georgoulis-who transferred from Division II Adelphi College in New York, last season-it is a matter of picking up right where he left off last season. Named third-team All-GNAC in '03-'04, he averaged 15.2 points and six rebounds per game in his first season with the Lions. He also took home the GNAC Player of the Week honor twice and scored a career-high 29 points against Suffolk University last February.
"He just loves the game of basketball," Emerson head coach Hank Smith said. "He comes to play every day, and his numbers reflect that."
But numbers are not what are on Georgoulis's mind. To him, it's all about winning a championship for Emerson.
"My agenda isn't to focus on accomplishments," Georgoulis said. "It's nice that it rewards the effort I put into doing what I do, but I just want to win the GNAC."
Though not officially a captain, he has quickly established himself as a leader on and off the floor, garnering the respect of his coaches and teammatess.
"He's become much more of a leader this year," Smith said.
Georgoulis's teammates agree.
"He really is a floor general out there," Shibley added. "The younger kids really look up to him."
Georgoulis, however, gives the credit for his success to the people who surround him during practices and games.
"I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without [my teammates]," Georgoulis said. "Our offense is much better off revolving around the team instead of one player."
This year, he is ready to take over Hennigan's spotlight.
"I'm not trying to fill his shoes," Georgoulis said. "I'm just playing basketball and doing everything I can to win games."
It is awfully hard to ignore the tremendous impact that the junior from New York has had on the first few games of the Lion's '04-'05 season. His 24 points and 10 boards helped lead the Lions to their first victory of the season against UMass-Boston. Another double-double performance helped Emerson win at Daniel Webster Dec. 4. He shot 8-10 from the field in a recent loss at Wheaton.
As of Sunday, Georgoulis is ranked number four in the Great Northeast Atlantic Conference (GNAC) in scoring, averaging a little over 19 points a game.
"Steve's really stepped up," senior captain Ryan Shibley. "He was a good player last year, but, this year, he's taken it to a whole new level."
For Georgoulis-who transferred from Division II Adelphi College in New York, last season-it is a matter of picking up right where he left off last season. Named third-team All-GNAC in '03-'04, he averaged 15.2 points and six rebounds per game in his first season with the Lions. He also took home the GNAC Player of the Week honor twice and scored a career-high 29 points against Suffolk University last February.
"He just loves the game of basketball," Emerson head coach Hank Smith said. "He comes to play every day, and his numbers reflect that."
But numbers are not what are on Georgoulis's mind. To him, it's all about winning a championship for Emerson.
"My agenda isn't to focus on accomplishments," Georgoulis said. "It's nice that it rewards the effort I put into doing what I do, but I just want to win the GNAC."
Though not officially a captain, he has quickly established himself as a leader on and off the floor, garnering the respect of his coaches and teammatess.
"He's become much more of a leader this year," Smith said.
Georgoulis's teammates agree.
"He really is a floor general out there," Shibley added. "The younger kids really look up to him."
Georgoulis, however, gives the credit for his success to the people who surround him during practices and games.
"I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without [my teammates]," Georgoulis said. "Our offense is much better off revolving around the team instead of one player."