The center position at Georgetown tends to live in a form of historical amber. Ewing, Mourning, Mutombo, maybe Roy Hibbert, and then everyone else. Yet in Jessie Govan's four seasons, Georgetown saw its best player at the position since Greg Monroe, and its most productive in a quarter century.

A Top 50 recruit from New York, Govan received interest from Syracuse, Notre Dame, and Louisville before committing to Georgetown at the end of his junior season in 2014. Though a quote from CBS Sports.com envisioned Govan as a "pure back-to-the-basket" center, Govan was anything but. An agile big man who seemed as comfortable from the perimeter as the pivot, Govan's skills were an evolution from days when Georgetown centers anchored the lane.

Govan also arrived at a time when Georgetown was still thinking big. Though it had slipped to the NIT in 2014, the past two recruiting classes provided hope and promise. With the arrival of freshman in Govan and Marcus Derrickson, and returning sophomores Tre Campbell, Isaac Copeland, L.J. Peak, and Paul White, it wasn't hyperbole when a young Govan told a reporter that his goals were to "maybe get into a Final Four... [and] definitely make the Tournament every year."

Despite the lofty resume from his PSAL championship run at Queens-based Wings Academy, Govan played sparingly as a freshman behind Bradley Hayes. An All-Big East freshman selection, Govan averaged 17 minutes and 6.8 points as a freshman, but started only six games as John Thompson III opted for the senior instead. Hayes 8.7 points was a high watermark for his up and down career, but Govan's progress took a back seat as Georgetown slid to its fewest wins since 1974.

Govan and Hayes split time at center in 2016-17; in hindsight, a questionable decision. Govan was ascendant as a mobile big man, Hayes was anything but. Thompson was loyal to Hayes and only towards the end of the 2016-17 did Govan get the consistent starting role, but the offense was run nearly entirely through guards L.J. Peak and Rodney Pryor. Govan finished third on the team in scoring but tied for the team rebounding lead with Pryor, a guard. At the end of Thompson's tenure, the big man role at Georgetown was not what it once was.

Patrick Ewing saw things differently and immediately elevated Govan to the focus of the offense, and progress followed. Govan became the first player in to average a double-double in points and rebounds since Mike Sweetney in 2003. Govan was growing comfortable extending his scoring reach, and was not afraid to take a shot from deep, although his touch (as evidenced with a 34 percent mark) wasn't quite there. Govan's tutelage under Ewing was paying dividends for the junior, and as Marcus Derrickson opted to the NBA G League for what would have been his senior season, Govan stayed focused on college and enjoyed a banner season as a result.

In a conference where discussions over the best guard or forward are commonplace, there was no debate that Jessie Govan was the best center in the Big East in 2018-19 and arguably one of the best in the nation. He enjoyed strong performances early in the season, with 26 points and eight rebounds versus Central Connecticut, 27 versus South Florida, 29 versus Richmond, and a 22 point, 12 rebound effort versus Syracuse. He was been a offensive and defensive presence in Big East play, with a career high 33 versus Providence and a 26 point, six rebound effort at home versus DePaul. Govan's outside shooting improved, and he places second on the team in three point shots at a 43 percent rate. Govan scored in double figures in all but two Big East games in 2018-19. Govan's ability to stay out of foul trouble has been vital for the team, as he has been sidelined just four times in his final two seasons.

His offensive strengths placed him atop the team's scoring lead and among the overall leaders in the Big East; yet, Govan struggled defensively, where he lost focus on interior defense. Teams did not fear Georgetown inside, and Govan's defense was been a point of contention all year in 2018-19. Govan's numbers dropped towards the end of the 2018-19 sason, and poor defensive efforts in blowout losses to DePaul and Seton Hall did not go unnoticed. He ended his career with a first round loss in the NIT, as his class was the first in 42 years not to win a single post-season game in their four years at Georgetown.

A first team all-Big East selection in 2019, Govan was the first such selection for the Hoyas in four years, and the first Georgetown center so honored since Greg Monroe in 2010. He ended his college career 12th all time in scoring, and eighth in rebounds, sixth all time among GU centers.