Evening star., 1948-01-07
Former Tech High Ace
Playing Big Role in
CoIoniaIs' Hof Pace
By MerrelI WhittIesey

| oaCh LII Cu1 ud1 y VI A01Oy biic 1iuOs
year freshman class was enrolling
at George Washington University
when Basket Ball Coach Art Zahn
sent hurry call for Johnny MofIatt,
asking him to report to the gym.
Mof1att had graduated from Tech
High the previous night. He was
introduced to Zahn and told he
would start @. WIS game . few
hours hence. He didn't know the
plays or the players but he had been
an all-high courtman in high school,
and in those lean days Of q. w.
athletics, al-anythings were rare
on g street.
The Colonials had what they
termed an informal team at the
time and that's polite word for
their brand Of basket ball. But
Moffatt supplied q spark and they
went on to beat Georgetowns In
formals twice and barely slide into
the Southern Conference tourna-
ment.
Unable to Finish Year.
Moffatt, however, had 18 months
of Army service ahead and he was
unable to finish the school year.
This year he reported back to the
Colonial campus as a half-fresh-
man, half-sophomore, but plenty
eligible for varsity basket ball.
! He Is listed in the brochure as
among those who might help"
which is an understatement. Moi
fatt quickly moved into the first
string, is the second high-point
scorer, with 95 points in 10 games,
and once you see G.. w. play you
won't forget him.
Moffatt, now 20 years old, added
height and weight in the Army.
He's 6-feet-1, has . lot Of spring,
and Is terror off the backboards
He is a. good floor man and ball
handler and Is one of the reasons
the Colonials are favored to beat
the University of Virginia tonight
at the National Guard Armory.
Quiet, Reserved Youngster.
Although Mid-Western and Met
ropolitan New York area players
dominated G. WIS all-star teams Of
the past, the Colonials usually have
q local product on the first string
and Moffatt, q quiet, reserved
youngster of the court, Is the latest
in that group.
Going back quite few years, the
Colonials had Dallas Shirley, now
a Junior high principal and basket
ball official, and Forrest Burgess.
Then there was the present coach,
Zahn; Joe Conner, who was killed
In a plane crash during the war,
Roy Mcneil and Joe Gallagher. OF
the group, Conner, captain OF the
1940-41 team that won 18 and lost 4,
probably was the finest player.
Gallagher, now the st. Johns coach,
was captain Of the Colonials' South
ern Conference champions.
With at least three more years of
eligibility, Moffatt apparently will
be an attractive addition to G. WIS
list of home town products.
Colonials Won Last Month.
The Colonials defeated Virginia,
55-49, at Charlottesville early In
December but they remember last
years. games, won by G. w. by
one and two point margins and
they're counting on a tough ball
game tonight. Virginia also lost
to william and Mary and-on
rugged two-day trip-to Georgia
and Georgia Tech, but the Virgin
ians have won four, including q
1899 triumph over Duke.
George Washington has a South
ern Conference date with Clemson
Friday at Tech before meeting
Georgetown Monday night at the
Armory. G. WIS record stands at
nine victories and a defeat at the
hands of N. G. State, Southern Con-
ference champion.