Some saw him as Patrick Ewing's heir apparent. But Grady Mateen was no Patrick Ewing.

An honorable mention All-America and Ohio Coaches Association Player of the year in 1984, Mateen was Georgetown's top signee amidst reports that John Thompson recruited him sight unseen. At 22.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.9 blocks per game had had the numbers, but was 30 pounds lighter than contemporary centers and was more of a finesse player than a more aggressive force inside.

To no surprise, Mateen played the understudy to Ewing throughout his freshman season. Despite season highs of 17 points and 12 rebounds in early season games, Mateen averaged less than two points per game in Big East play. He scored a combined 23 points in three early wins over Seton Hall, Providence, and Pitt, and just two points the remainder of the conference season.

Mateen's sophomore season was more of the same. He was passed over in the starting lineup by fifth year Ralph Dalton, despite Dalton's lack of movement following his 1981 knee injury. Mateen averaged 4.2 points per game when, on the eve of the regular season finale versus Syracuse, he quit the team.

"I was extremely surprised, just as the team was," Coach Thompson told the Washington Post. "You have a young man who's in the process of making decisions for himself, and you have to respect the fact that he made the decision. But I think that the timing was very poor."

Playing time proved a key role in Mateen's move.

"I worked most of my life to get where I am, and I'm not going to sit when I know I should play," Mateen told the Post. "Most people wouldn't have left Georgetown, because of Coach Thompson and because it's a great program. They would have been content to just be on the team. Well, I wasn't content to sit."

Mateen played his final two seasons at Ohio State, averaging 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds under coach Gary Williams.