Georgia State will honor the three seniors on its men’s basketball team before Saturday’s game against Georgia Southern. Tipoff is expected to be at 2 p.m.
The seniors, guards Ryan Harrow and Ryann Green, and center Curtis Washington, are unique in how they got to Georgia State.
Green came as a walk-on after a
Ryann Green is one of three seniors Georgia State will honor on Saturday. (HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM)
standout career at Atlanta’s Benjamin Banneker High School. He eventually earned a scholarship and a starting spot because of his hustle and determination.
Washington transferred to Georgia State after two disappointing years at USC. He has had an up-and-down career with the Panthers: helping the Panthers win the Sun Belt last year before losing his starting job midway through this season because of ineffective play. However, he has been playing the best in his career the past seven games.
Harrow is an Atlanta native who transferred from Kentucky to Georgia State to be near his ailing father. He is arguably the most important transfer to the school in any sport at any time in its history. A lithe guard who has added a dependable jumper to his vicious driving ability, he helped the Panthers win the Sun Belt’s regular-season title last year and almost single-handedly willingly them to the tournament title with 37 points in a loss to Louisiana-Lafayette in the final. He surpassed 1,000 points in his Georgia State career earlier this year in less than two seasons and is the favorite to be named the conference player of the year this year.
Here are some of their favorite memories:
Curtis Washington is one of three seniors Georgia State will honor on Saturday. (Georgia State Athletics)
Washington
Off the court: Probably being in Costa Rica when I saw God moving in all of our guys. I saw them get out of their comfort zone and talk to the kids and wash their feet. It was a blessing to see God work through kids who maybe thought they wouldn't be doing that.
On the court: Last year when we won the conference championship here at home and celebrated after. That was a great experience. Anytime you've been through ups and downs with a certain team, and you succeed, it's a good thing. This year, I can't wait to see how far we go because we've been through so much. As a family, I can't wait to see where God takes us.
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Green
Off the court: Academically, being named to the Dean's list the first semester off my sophomore year and at the end of my year, my sophomore year, coach Hunter announced I would be receiving a scholarship. To see that I would be rewarded, to see my mom happy and everyone else happy, would be my moment.
On the court: I'd have to say the Western Kentucky home game last year when afterward we celebrated our regular-season title. It hadn't been done in a while. To see all of our hard work come together and have everyone celebrate was my favorite.
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Harrow
Off the court: The trip to Costa Rica last summer. That was fun. All of us bonding together and getting better as a team and going to the community service and stuff was cool. I took a lot of photos and bought a soccer jersey when I was there.
On the court: When we won the championship against Western Kentucky last year. Just coming in here the first year and winning the conference championship the first time. Me being on the team for the first year was big. When the buzzer sounded everyone was so excited. Everyone got the posters and the T-shirt, and getting the trophy was really big. I kept one of the posters and the T-shirt. I think we got a basketball too. They are at my mom's house, she takes all the memorabilia.
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