John Thompson III's second recruiting class featured the likes of Marc Egerson, Octavius Spann, and Josh Thornton, none of whom made it to their junior season on the Hilltop. The one member of the Class of 2009 who remained distinguished himself among the top players of this decade.

Jessie Sapp, Georgetown's first major New York City recruit in nearly a decade, played every game the only way he knew how: hard. "He never gets the credit he deserves, but that's the good thing about him- he doesn't worry about it," said Pitt's Levance Fields for a player who was a cornerstone of the Hoyas' 2007 and 2008 teams. A reserve in 2005-06, Sapp started for 79 consecutive games at guard over two and a half seasons, with memorable games such as 15 points against North Carolina in the 2007 NCAA regional final and 23 points in the 2008 Big East quarterfinals against Villanova.

Sapp earned the respect of his team and of his opponents.

"What I learned from Jessie is that he's very strong-willed, not just as a basketball player, just as a person," said guard Chris Wright. "You learn he's a tough kid, and he's been through it, and on the court he's been through everything you can possibly go through. He's been to the Final Four, he's won the Big East tournament. Who else better to listen to?"

"I love him, simply put,", said Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun. "Maybe it's a New York thing, but whatever it may be, his toughness rubs off on everyone else--and not a blatant toughness, not a stupid toughness-- a competitive toughness that I love and respect."

"I consider him to be, and it's really up to John [Thompson III] to determine who is the most valuable player on their team, but from an outside viewpoint there can't be anybody more valuable." he continued. "I think he can do something not a lot of other players can do-- he transmitted his toughness to the rest of the team and it's contagious. I think in the Syracuse game, he transmitted it to other players, and it's an amazing characteristic and it's why he's, in my opinion, one of the more feared players in the league."

"[New York] It made me who I am,", Sapp told The HOYA. "I think it was tough on me, it had its up and its downs, but it made me who I am, and I'm proud to be from there. I wouldn't change it for the world."