THE SIDELINES : Georgetown Star Mourning Tells of Alleged Drug Network Center

Georgetown basketball star Alonzo Mourning testified today that he made several visits to the alleged nerve center of a large drug network, but denied seeing any drugs there.

Mourning, who spent about 50 minutes testifying in the U.S. District Court drug trial of reputed cocaine kingpin Rayful Edmond III and 10 co-defendants, acknowledged he made two or three visits to Edmond’s home and up to 10 visits to the home of another defendant in the case. But the sophomore center denied seeing drugs, large amounts of cash or drug paraphernalia at either Edmond’s home or at the residence of one of the co-defendants, Jerry Millington.

Law enforcement officials have alleged that Edmond may have been responsible for up to 30% of the cocaine market in the nation’s capital over a two-year period.

Mourning said he saw a large number of visitors going in and out of Edmond’s home during his brief trips there, but said he noticed nothing unusual about them. During visits to Millington’s home during the fall of 1988 and the first months of 1989, Mourning and former Hoya teammate John Turner watched sporting events on television, Mourning testified.

Mourning, who was picked for the pre-season Associated Press All-America team, also testified that he stopped associating with Edmond after Coach John Thompson warned the team against socializing with Edmond before his arrest.