All were great moments in a season that saw the Hoyas record one of the most successful seasons in recent history, finishing 23-10 overall and being ranked No. 16 in the final ESPN/USA Today Top 25 poll.  But if you ask second-year Head Coach John Thompson III, one of the biggest highlights of the 2005-06 year came on Saturday, May 20.

That date may not ring a bell. Practice started in October, the season started in November, BIG EAST play started in January, the postseason was in March and the team's season-ending banquet was in April.  On May 20, Coach Thompson was in attendance on Healy Lawn as he saw all seven of the Hoyas seniors - five student-athletes and two student managers - earn their degrees from Georgetown.

"Today is an exciting day for our program," Thompson said on Saturday.  "In many regards, this class has carried the torch and continued the tradition of Georgetown Basketball.  Due to the high profile nature of college basketball, many perceive these young men only as athletes.

"The wins and losses, on the court, have only been a portion of their growth and maturation.  I am extremely proud to have been part of their collegiate experience.  I am extremely proud to see all seven earn their degrees from Georgetown.  I look forward to watching them head into 'the real world' as prepared young men." 

The graduating seniors - Ryan Beal (Coral Gables, Fla./Ransom Everglades), Brandon Bowman (Santa Monica, Calif./Westchester), Ashanti Cook (Westchester, Calif./Westchester), Amadou Kilkenny-Diaw (Washington, D.C./St. Alban's) and Darrel Owens (Napoleonville, La./Assumption) - compiled a four-year record of 74-53, including a 42-23 mark in the final two years under Coach Thompson.  They reached the Quarterfinals of the NIT during the 2004-05 season when the team posted a 19-13 mark, and then reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament this season.  With five student-athletes earning their degrees this year, the Georgetown tradition of graduation - 103 of 105 members of the men's basketball program that have stayed four years have earned their degrees - continues under Coach Thompson.

Beal earned his degree from the McDonough School of Business, with a degree in marketing.   Bowman earned his degree in sociology, with a minor in English.  Cook, a high school teammate of Bowman's, graduated with a major in sociology and a minor in theology.

Kilkenny-Diaw, a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, graduated with a major in English and minored in computer science.

Owens, who returned for his fifth year at Georgetown this season, earned his bachelor's degree in 2005, but came back to school for his final year of eligibility and earned a second bachelor's degree.  He finished his first degree in sociology and his second in 2006 in theology.

Harrison earned his degree in history, with a minor in government.

Zormelo graduated from the McDonough School of Business, majoring in finance.