Monica Mcnu*tt is rapidly becoming a household name in the sporting world.
It's been a long time coming for the ESPN star. Not only is she one of a cadre of Black women synthesizing basketball's odds and ends for the masses, sitting alongside the likes of Chiney Ogwumike, Andraya Carter, LaChina Robinson and Christy Winter-Scott as budding stars. She's no slouch on the hardwood, either. She first came to prominence not as a talking head, but as a hooper in one of the nation's most iconic schools.
Mcnu*tt's recent criticism of Stephen A. Smith — and the First Take megastar's subsequent remarks regarding Mcnu*tt's popularity — has garnered plenty of interest. But don't get it twisted. Mcnu*tt was a formidable foe on the floor. And what better to prove it than by revisiting her impressive playing career at Georgetown.
MORE:Monica Mcnu*tt criticizes Stephen A. Smith's WNBA coverage on First Take
So without further ado, here's what you need to know about Mcnu*tt during her four-year spell with the Hoyas.
Where did Monica Mcnu*tt play college basketball?
Mcnu*tt spent her collegiate career at Georgetown, playing there from 2007-2011.
The Suitland, Maryland native was far from average during her time with the Hoyas. It was a match made in heaven for Mcnu*tt, who was raised as a Georgetown fan — her father played for John Thompson at St. Anthony’s Catholic School in Northeast D.C., his first stop on a Hall-of-Fame coaching career.
Thompson even played a role in Mcnu*tt's recruiting. She was sold.
"It checked all the boxes," Mcnu*tt wrote on the Washington Commanders' official website in March.
Mcnu*tt was immediately thrusted into the role of contributor when she touched down on campus. At 6-foot, Mcnu*tt had ideal size to play in the backcourt. And although she spent most of her first two seasonscoming off the bench, she made her impact felt, averaging 5.6 and 8 points a night in her freshman and sophom*ore seasons, respectively.
Ahead of the 2009-10 season, Mcnu*tt was promoted to the starting lineup. Success soon followed the Hoyas, who finished the year with a 26-7 record and a second-place finish in the Big East.
Mcnu*tt was a big reason why.She formed quite the connection with backcourt mate (and future WNBA player) Sugar Rodgers. The duo spearheaded Georgetown's scoring, averaging 11.2 and 17.6 point a game, respectively. Mcnu*tt emerged as a pest on both sides of the floor, hitting 35.3 percent of her threes (sixth-best in Big East) and 85.9 percent of her free throws. On the defensive front, Mcnu*tt was similarly effective, averaging a team-high 2.2 steals per contest. Her 2.2 takeaways ranked sixth in the conference that season, 0.1 steals more than Maya Moore's mark of 2.1 steals per game.
For her efforts, Mcnu*tt was named second team All-Big East. Other players who joined her on the team were future All-WNBA first-teamers Skylar Diggins-Smith and Tiffany Hayes.
Mcnu*tt finished her playing career with a flourish, leading the Hoyas to the Sweet 16 for just the second-time in program history in 2010-11. She saved her best for her final few games, sinking four triples to lead the Hoyas past Maryland.
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 4, 2024Monica Mcnu*tt upon graduating Georgetown:
#1 all-time games
#2 threes
#9 steals
#16 points
#23 blocks
#25 rebounds2011: Team captain Mcnu*tt sinks 4 threes as the Hoyas destroy rival Maryland 79-57 to make the Sweet 16 for the 2nd time in school historypic.twitter.com/ujzY9pQOAb
She followed that performance up with another glittering display, this one against the reigning national champion, UConn. Mcnu*tt poured in 17 points in a 68-63 defeat to the heavily-favored Huskies, who featured six future WNBA players, spearheaded by future WNBA MVPs Moore and Tina Charles.
Monica Mcnu*tt stats, accolades at Georgetown
Put plainly, Mcnu*tt was a hooper in college. At 6-foot, she had the size to overpower smaller guards. And yet, her jump shot very well could have been the best part of her game.
Mcnu*tt averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game over the course of her career. She led the Hoyas to two NCAA tournaments, including a Sweet 16 berth in 2011.
Mcnu*tt earned second-team All-Big East honors in 2010 after ranking sixth in the league in steals per game (2.2) and three-point shooting (35.9%).
At the time of her graduation, Mcnu*tt was the program's all-time leader in games played. She also ranked in the top-ten in three-pointers made (second) and steals (ninth).
You can find her complete stats below.
| Year | Class | GP | RPG | APG | SPG | PPG |
| 2007-08 | FR | 29 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 5.6 |
| 2008-09 | SO | 34 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 8.0 |
| 2009-10 | JR | 33 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 11.2 |
| 2010-11 | SR | 35 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 10.5 |
| Career | 131 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 8.9 |
Why didn't Monica Mcnu*tt play in the WNBA?
Despite her basketball prowess, Mcnu*tt always seemed to have her eyes cast elsewhere. Immediately following the conclusion of her Georgetown career, Mcnu*tt started writing an advice column towards high school athletes in the Washington Post. She also did broadcast work for Georgetown after graduation and soon enrolled at the University of Maryland's graduate school, where she obtained a master's degree in journalism in 2013.
All of that is to say, Mcnu*tt had options. It seems she eventually settled on following her journalism dreams after accomplishing her hoop ones. Given the quality of her reporting, we're all better for it, too.
