Will Alston grew up as a fan of the Georgetown Hoyas. As a high school student he saw them at the Verizon Center in Washington and he even played a game on the homecourt of the Hoyas as a junior varsity player while at Montrose Christian in Rockville.

Alston, a 2008 Laurel High graduate, got an even closer look at the Hoyas and the downtown arena Nov. 17 when he made his college debut.

The freshman forward for Jacksonville University, a Division I member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, came into the game as a reserve late in the first half against Georgetown of the Big East.

Alston's first task on defense was to guard Georgetown freshman center Greg Monroe, a high school All-American who at 6-foot-11 is four inches taller than Alston.

"This game is way more faster and physical," Alston said of college hoops, just eight months after leading Laurel High to the Class 4A state semifinals. "Practice is way longer. You have to adjust your body and your mind."

Said Jacksonville assistant coach Trevor Quinn of Alston: "I think he has a great attitude and work ethic."

Monroe missed a shot the first time Alston guarded him, but the Laurel resident picked up a foul as the Georgetown center got the rebound and shot again. A few minutes later Alston missed his first college field goal attempt, an acrobatic move in the lane. Monroe had 14 points and seven rebounds.

Alston finished with no points or rebounds in two minutes of play as Jacksonville lost, 71-62, to the Hoyas. Alston did not play when the Dolphins began the season Nov. 15 with a 59-57 loss to Florida State of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Alston his right knee has bothered him a little in the early part of the season.

"With most freshman (the college game) is an adjustment," Jacksonville assistant coach Darryl Bruce, a product of DeMatha Catholic High, said of Alston. "He is getting better every day. We expect him to get more minutes as the year goes along."

Bruce, from Forestville, said he knew Alston would not back down against Georgetown. "I knew he wasn't afraid. He competed with them" in youth basketball.

Alston said he left 16 tickets for family and friends for the game against the Hoyas, which drew a crowd of 10,253. His team is picked to finish first or second in the Atlantic Sun by most pre-season publications. Alston transferred to Laurel High for his senior year.

His parents, Billy Alston and Jennifer Postell, were in attendance along with new Laurel High head hoops coach Antoine Gaither and senior guard Corey Wood, a teammate with Alston last season for the county and region champs. Also at the game were two of Alston's uncles: Steve Postell, who played for Youngstown State, and Jeff Postell, who played pro football for the Baltimore Colts.

Alston said he was not intimidated to face the nationally-ranked Hoyas since he played against some of their players, including Austin Freeman (DeMatha) and Chris Wright (St. John's), in AAU ball while in high school. Wright had 16 points and four assists and Freeman had seven points and made just one of 10 shots from the field.

"It was fun and exciting. All of the guys on the other team, I have been growing up with my whole life," Alston said. "It was fun being out there with those guys."

The Dolphins had just five assists while Georgetown had 11. JU missed its first eight shots from the field and did not score its first basket until 13:46 was left in the first half.

Notes: Dolphins head coach Cliff Warren is from Silver Spring and played in college at Mount St. Mary's in Frederick County ... JU assistant Quinn is from Severna Park and played in college at Division III Goucher ... Aric Brooks, a sophomore from Baltimore, had three points for the Dolphins ... Jacksonville hosts American on Nov. 22 ... The Hoyas, now 1-0, host Drexel of the CAA on Nov. 22 ... Jeff Postell, Jr., a cousin of Alston, played football at Delaware State ... Artis Gilmore, a former Jacksonville and NBA star, was at the game as part of the Dolphins radio network. He is a special assistant to the president of JU.

---

user comments (0)