St. John’s Red Storm
Overall Rank: #87
Conference Rank: #11 Big East
2010-11: 21-12, 12-6
2010-11 postseason: NCAA
Coach: Steve Lavin (21-12 at St. John’s, 166-90 overall)
Remember St. John’s NCAA Tournament team last year? Well forget about all of those guys…they are gone. Coach Steve Lavin inherited a talented team of seniors that many expected to make the NCAA Tournament no matter who was coaching. Coach Lavin’s test at St. John’s has just begun, but he passed the first one by getting to the tournament in 2011 and he passed the second test by getting one of the best recruiting classes in the nation to head to Jamaica, New York.
Who’s Out:
Dwight Hardy, Justin Brownlee, D.J. Kennedy, Paris Horne, Dwayne Polee, Malik Booth, Justin Burrell and Sean Evans were the top eight scorers on the Red Storm last year. And they are all out. Hardy’s scoring will be tough to replace and Brownlee and Kennedy were versatile athletes who could score in a variety of ways. In the end, this team is starting over, but they are starting over with Coach Lavin’s players and that is not a horrible thing.
Who’s In:
This class is full of athletic wing players who will run up and down the floor. Maurice Harkless may be the best of the bunch. The 6-8 Queens, New York native is an amazing athlete who can get to the rim with ease. He has a pretty nice stroke too. He is a tad lean, but he should be a small forward anyway and will not have to battle in the paint too often. Yet, strength will come with time and then he will be an all-conference caliber player. Sir’Dominic Pointer is a slightly shorter version of Harkless. He is not as good of a shooter, but he also is a better defender and should find a spot in the regular rotation. Amir Garrett may be outdone by some of his new teammates, but his defensive intensity should earn him plenty of playing time. Jakarr Sampson is the one athletic small forward who may be asked to spend some time at the four spot. The 6-7, 190 pounder is certainly better off at small forward, but everybody cannot be a small forward. On this team he can run up and down the court at either position and fit in just fine. When Sampson is not at the four spot, God’sgift Achiuwa probably will. The 6-9, 240 pound junior college transfer has more experience than most people on this team and that will go a long way. The best overall recruit according to many is Norvel Pelle. The 6-10 center is a lanky shot blocker. He may not be much of a scoring threat at this point in his career, but at least he is a tall body who can keep up with the athletes on this team.
Who to Watch:
The backcourt gets a few new faces as well to join the one returning scholarship player from the 2010-2011 Red Storm squad. Nurideen Lindsey spent one year at Redlands Community College in Oklahoma and could take over the point guard duties from day. As a sophomore, he is actually experienced. On top of that, he is really good and could be a superb scoring point guard for St. John’s. Phil Greene will battle for some playing time as a backup point guard and D’Angelo Harrison is a pure scorer who should put up a ton of points during his freshman campaign. He will not help with bringing the ball up the floor, but as long as Lindsey, Greene and Malik Stith, that guy who was actually on the team last year, can control the ball handling in the backcourt, Harrison can do enough scoring for everybody.
Final Projection:
This group will obviously take some time to develop. Of the three upperclassmen on the roster, none are seniors. One is a junior college transfer and one is a walk-on who played in two games last season. It will take time for this group of raw talent to become a team. Coach Lavin’s in game coaching will be put to the test in the toughest of all places to do such things…the Big East. For now, small victories are good, but in the following season or two this team will be expected not just to make the NCAA Tournament, but win a few games once they get there.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
Projected Starting Five:
Nurideen Lindsey, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season
D’Angelo Harrison, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Maurice Harkless, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Jakarr Sampson, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Norvel Pelle, Freshman, Center, DNP last season
Madness 2011 Men's Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#27 Jakarr Sampson
#34 Sir'Dominic Pointer
#35 Maurice Harkless
#48 D'Angelo Harrison
#60 Norvel Pelle
#81 Amir Garrett
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