St. John's Nearing Powerhouse Recruiting Class
- Thread starter salty dog
- Start date
We've had one 1-and-done (unexpectedly) and one 2-and-done who was already a year behind his HS class due to not qualifying. Our lineup is made up of 4 year players and 1 Soph who has NBA aspirations after this season. This notion that we have too many 5star 1-and-dones is a figmaent of the imagination. The idea that we should pass up higher ranked kids in order to go after lower ranked kids who will be more appreciative of the opportunity given to them by St. John's is pure folly.
Class of 72
Active member
This was a very encouraging article and hopefully we land at least 3 more of the kids on the radar.
While it may bode well for the 2015 class what should be made clear about the staff's criticism regarding recruiting has mainly to do with the disastrous 2014 class results. WHY? because this was the magical fifth year that Lavin had been talking about with 3 of his original seniors and one of STJ's all time scorers. Even the most rose-colored, Kool-aid drinking fans can see the experience factor come into play with a brief national ranking and some nice wins. The mistakes with Thomas and not bringing in another big to help Obekpa will be debated for years to come.
That said, what some cognoscenti have heard was that only a stellar recruiting class was going to save this staff's jobs. I will still go with that assessment. Most of us are hoping that Briscoe was an aberration and we land our remaining targets with the possibility of beaucoup playing time.
Two of our targets are already on the team so keeping them and getting an experienced JC, a point guard, and a sweet shooting forward will be icing on the cake!
While it may bode well for the 2015 class what should be made clear about the staff's criticism regarding recruiting has mainly to do with the disastrous 2014 class results. WHY? because this was the magical fifth year that Lavin had been talking about with 3 of his original seniors and one of STJ's all time scorers. Even the most rose-colored, Kool-aid drinking fans can see the experience factor come into play with a brief national ranking and some nice wins. The mistakes with Thomas and not bringing in another big to help Obekpa will be debated for years to come.
That said, what some cognoscenti have heard was that only a stellar recruiting class was going to save this staff's jobs. I will still go with that assessment. Most of us are hoping that Briscoe was an aberration and we land our remaining targets with the possibility of beaucoup playing time.
Two of our targets are already on the team so keeping them and getting an experienced JC, a point guard, and a sweet shooting forward will be icing on the cake!
Class of 72
Active member
Well said! To be a final 8 team you need top 50 talent mixed with the 2 and 3 star players. If you don't aim high in NYC then you will be forever Fordham!
billthetruth
Well-known member
Are you surprised. He is well known to make dumb statements
Very positive developments. Hopefully "Bright Lights" LoVett comes and plays in the real bright lights of NYC and MSG. He seems like a perfect addition to the team and would fit well with Sampson in the back court. Sampson and Diallo were together for Midnight Madness and hopefully formed a bond that will help Diallo decide to come to St. John's. Felix being here doesn't hurt and hopefully Obekpa decides to stay for another year.
It was kind of funny seeing Zach's last article that Lavin isn't a recruiting maestro anymore to the very next article about Lavin potentially landing a powerhouse class. Let's hope Lavin and staff close out on these kids and having a nice run to end this season could go a long way in helping make up the minds of some of these kids.
It was kind of funny seeing Zach's last article that Lavin isn't a recruiting maestro anymore to the very next article about Lavin potentially landing a powerhouse class. Let's hope Lavin and staff close out on these kids and having a nice run to end this season could go a long way in helping make up the minds of some of these kids.
This article didn't mention anything we didn't already know.
should we be surprised that the staff is recruiting hard now that their jobs are on the line?
And the notion that this could be a "powerhouse class" is pure folly.
We are merely still involved with these players. Theres no indication we lead for any of them besides Freeman and maybe Lovett. A juco and an unranked pg.
The foreigners are anybody's guess, and without a pg we're lucky Diallo hasn't dropped us from his list yet.
We don't all of a sudden have a great recruiting class on our hands. We're in scramble mode. Of course there will be names, but look into whether we have a good chance with them, and ask yourself if they're actually any good.
should we be surprised that the staff is recruiting hard now that their jobs are on the line?
And the notion that this could be a "powerhouse class" is pure folly.
We are merely still involved with these players. Theres no indication we lead for any of them besides Freeman and maybe Lovett. A juco and an unranked pg.
The foreigners are anybody's guess, and without a pg we're lucky Diallo hasn't dropped us from his list yet.
We don't all of a sudden have a great recruiting class on our hands. We're in scramble mode. Of course there will be names, but look into whether we have a good chance with them, and ask yourself if they're actually any good.
LOL! You must be a hoot at parties!
Yeah, I know. You're merely being realistic. A fine line between realism and pessimism.
Looking from afar, it does appear that the staff is doing a better job of that this year. Sure, they are trying to get the home run 5 star recruits (Briscoe and Diallo). And they got an excellent piece in Sampson who will probably be starting as a freshman next season. But he's also trying to balance it out with solid all around players such as Doughty, Lovett, and Freeman. I'm sure they got their eyes on a few other guys out there too that have yet to be mentioned.
I do agree with the posters on this board though that I'd like to see the staff more involved with local talent. If they strike out on guys like Briscoe and Diallo, so be it. It's hard to recruit against the likes of Kentucky and Kansas. But guys like Jesse Govan, Damon Wilson, Matt Ryan, Traci Carter, Dupree McBrayer, Markus McDuffie are out there and the coaches need to be on them recruiting hard every chance they get. Of course you are not going to get some of them (Ryan for example was never coming to SJU), but still it's important to net the local guys.
Scramble mode = "I didn't know we were recruiting those kids"
Also, we have more 2015 commitments than Kansas right now. I'm sure Bill Self is scrambling. I too would like to get kids signed in the Fall but for whatever reason, Lavin always seems to get them late in the year. I don't think he pressures kids to commit early.
Also, we have more 2015 commitments than Kansas right now. I'm sure Bill Self is scrambling. I too would like to get kids signed in the Fall but for whatever reason, Lavin always seems to get them late in the year. I don't think he pressures kids to commit early.
I do respeCT Freeman was at a tougher love of the njcaa.
But my expectations for the rest of the class are tempered because anyone we sign at this point is a verbal contingent on Lavin returning, which shouldn't happen I'd we don't make the tournament.
And I don't like our chances with Diallo, not with the way felix has been used, and Obekpa's up and down stay here.
Exactly, Paultz. Freeman will be amongst the top 5-10 players in JUCO, this season. Not to mention, LoVett isn't unranked. He was highly-rated a couple of years, but now he's listed as a top 100 player, per Rivals (#91), 247 Sports (#105), and Scout (#91), and rated a 4-star player, per ESPN.
"Scramble mode," huh? Give us proof (I know it's not, but want you to give us proof). But I'm gonna give you a pass this time, as I think your last post was for a reaction.
Not to bash Felix, but I'm not sure what you mean by how he's been used? The kid got 10 minutes each game against FDU, Fordham, and Long Beach State. Got a total of 1 point. I get that he didn't play against Butler and Villanova. And he had limited minutes against SHU and Providence. But in any sport, you have to take advantage of the opportunities that are given to you. I do expect he'll get a few more minutes as the season progresses, but I'm not really sure how Lavin can give minutes to a guard with an inability to score.
Oh my god, just stop.
I've posted in freeman, lovett, the greek, and the Italians threads... how can you say I didn't know we were recruiting them.
and Kansas is in the running for 6 of the top 10 players in the country, and they already have a likely mcdonald's all American signed.
Dink, the Europeans are reaches, and people are already counting on them being here.
I would be fine with Freeman and lovett if they were surrounded with better talent.
I will say this, the entire equation changes if obekph and jordan return. I'm not convinced they will, but then adding Sampson and lovett and freeman, gives us decent talent. Lot of its though
