- By: Tom Harkness and Nathan Mook -
Chris Caputo, head coach of George Washington University’s men’s basketball program, recently sat down with Nathan Mook of The Vault Network for an exciting new episode of The Vault Files.
Since arriving in Washington, D.C., Caputo has put together a 48-42 overall record (.533), with his most tremendous success coming during the 2024-25 season. The Revolutionaries (17-9, 6-7 Atlantic 10) are in the midst of their best campaign since 2016-17, when they finished 20-15 overall and 10-8 in Atlantic 10 play. In the seven seasons following that 20-win year (2017-18 to 2023-24), George Washington had only one season with a .500 or better record overall and in conference matchups.
That lone bright spot was the 2022-23 season- Caputo’s first with the team- when the Revolutionaries posted a 16-16 record, including a solid 10-8 mark in Atlantic 10 play. However, things took a turn in the following season (2023-24), where the team, despite a strong 11-2 start, stumbled to a 4-15 finish, ultimately finding themselves at the bottom of the conference standings.
Entering this year with a roster featuring significant turnover due to the offseason departures of Babatunde Akingbola, Antoine Smith, and James Bishop IV (all graduates) and the additional losses of German-born guard Benny Schroder and 2022-23 A10 Rookie of the Year Max Edwards (who transferred to conference foe Duquesne), George Washington seemed primed for another rough season- and their luck only worsened in early July when rising redshirt sophomore Garrett Johnson, who had averaged 13.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in 2023-24, suffered a torn ACL.
Despite these challenges, George Washington has been rolling. Even without Johnson—and with sophomore forward Darren Buchanan Jr. dealing with persistent ankle issues throughout most of the conference play—the team has defied expectations and poses a significant threat to any team it lines up against.
A significant reason for their resurgence has been the frontcourt. Providence transfer Rafael Castro leads the team with 13.2 points and nine rebounds per game on a staggering 70.4% shooting. His performance has only improved in conference play, with averages of 15.8 points and 9.1 rebounds on 72.2% shooting against Atlantic 10 opponents. Delaware transfer Gerald Drumgoole is second in scoring with 12.2 points per game. Meanwhile, despite a more limited role than last season, Buchanan remains impactful with 11.8 points and 6.4 rebounds.
In the backcourt, sophomore guards Trey Autry (10 PPG, 47.1% FG, 39.8% 3PT) and Jacoi Hutchinson (6.7 PPG), along with redshirt freshman Christian Jones (8.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.5 APG), have also contributed significantly. They offer a glimpse into a promising future for the Revolutionaries.
George Washington will be back on the court on Wednesday night, February 19th, when they host the Saint Joseph’s Hawks (15-10, 6-6 A10). Such will be the only regular-season meeting between the two teams and carries significant implications for seeding in the upcoming Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Hawks currently hold a half-game lead over the Revolutionaries in the standings.
For more from Caputo, click the link below: