Who are the Biggest Recruits That St. Johns Missed

Havent been a fan for nearly as long as many here, but I recall someone on this board or JJ once mention Bobby Hurley having been a potential recruit.
 
Apparently Ben Gordon could have been ours, but Jarvis preferred Willie Shaw.

And, of course, Looie reneging on Gary Payton in favor of Marcus Broadnax.
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Actually, Looie took both Broadnax and Elander Lewis (from Albany, NY) when Payton didn't commit within the timeline given to him
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I've heard variations on that story, including Payton thinking the school was committed to him.
 
Kemba Walker. I remember espn quoting him as saying, "I would have gone to St. John's if I knew they could win"
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From what I understand we never had a shot. His mom wanted him out of nyc.
 
Havent been a fan for nearly as long as many here, but I recall someone on this board or JJ once mention Bobby Hurley having been a potential recruit.
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Correct you are. Came down to us and Duke. He won 2 championships with Duke.
 
Havent been a fan for nearly as long as many here, but I recall someone on this board or JJ once mention Bobby Hurley having been a potential recruit.
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Correct you are. Came down to us and Duke. He won 2 championships with Duke.
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His dad Bob Hurley writes about this in his book "Divided Loyalties."

Both he and his wife loved Lou and Mahoney, but couldn't see Bobby living in an off-campus apartment being semi- self sufficient.
 
Havent been a fan for nearly as long as many here, but I recall someone on this board or JJ once mention Bobby Hurley having been a potential recruit.
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Correct you are. Came down to us and Duke. He won 2 championships with Duke.
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His dad Bob Hurley writes about this in his book "Divided Loyalties."

Both he and his wife loved Lou and Mahoney, but couldn't see Bobby living in an off-campus apartment being semi- self sufficient.
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Curious as to how that same thought affected us with other recruits and how it may have changed the history of this program
 
Kenny smith , Kenny Anderson , Quincy douby, Lamar odom , Jamal mashburn , Smush Parker , Andre Barrett , speedy Claxton , Charlie Villanueva , mike James , Elton brand, jermaine Lawrence , Hilton Armstrong , Tobias Harris , devin ebanks, Danny green, Tom gugliotta, Julius hodge , Kevin jones, doron lamb, Scott machado, joakim Noah (born in France came here when he was 8, lived 58st Central Park west until he went to college. Played on the same AAU team as him , we also played on many teams together in the 92st Y in manhattan , he use to tell me that he wanted to go to St. John's when we were 12/13 years old , but that was also before he grew 8 inches and also became MVP at ABCD camp his senior year of high school. His mother was gorgeous she use to tape our games I think she was Ms. Sweden 1983 ) Wally szerbiak, Allan ray.
 
Kenny smith , Kenny Anderson , Quincy douby, Lamar odom , Jamal mashburn , Smush Parker , Andre Barrett , speedy Claxton , Charlie Villanueva , mike James , Elton brand, jermaine Lawrence , Hilton Armstrong , Tobias Harris , devin ebanks, Danny green, Tom gugliotta, Julius hodge , Kevin jones, doron lamb, Scott machado, joakim Noah (born in France came here when he was 8, lived 58st Central Park west until he went to college. Played on the same AAU team as him , we also played on many teams together in the 92st Y in manhattan , he use to tell me that he wanted to go to St. John's when we were 12/13 years old , but that was also before he grew 8 inches and also became MVP at ABCD camp his senior year of high school. His mother was gorgeous she use to tape our games I think she was Ms. Sweden 1983 ) Wally szerbiak, Allan ray.
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Lamar Odom was never coming to SJU.
He had no grades and had to "settle" for Jim Harrick and URI. We never had a shot.

Claxton was locked up early by Hofstra and no big schools showed interest until very late in his senior season and he was not un-commiting (we didnt pursue him anyway).

Green was a tough one - that was the first very good local kid that Norm got beaten on.
 
Yeah I knew about Lamar grades I just wanted to throw him in there . He wasn't even eligible his first year at URI so he wasn't a true freshmen in his only year there. I don't Even know how Jim harrick pulled those strings for URI to accept him with his SAT scores and grades
 
Me.
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Explain? joke?

I've never really considered the topic of this thread, because for most years and recruits, I've just gotten used to the reality of being a bridesmaid. So, when we get a plum like Jordan, or Artest, or Harkless, I'm pleasantly surprised. Actually, Lavin has assembled more talent quicker than any coach we've had in my lifetime.
 
Yeah I knew about Lamar grades I just wanted to throw him in there . He wasn't even eligible his first year at URI so he wasn't a true freshmen in his only year there. I don't Even know how Jim harrick pulled those strings for URI to accept him with his SAT scores and grades
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if he didnt get kicked out of ctk and he qualified he was going to georgia tech all the way.
 
Kenny smith , Kenny Anderson , Quincy douby, Lamar odom , Jamal mashburn , Smush Parker , Andre Barrett , speedy Claxton , Charlie Villanueva , mike James , Elton brand, jermaine Lawrence , Hilton Armstrong , Tobias Harris , devin ebanks, Danny green, Tom gugliotta, Julius hodge , Kevin jones, doron lamb, Scott machado, joakim Noah (born in France came here when he was 8, lived 58st Central Park west until he went to college. Played on the same AAU team as him , we also played on many teams together in the 92st Y in manhattan , he use to tell me that he wanted to go to St. John's when we were 12/13 years old , but that was also before he grew 8 inches and also became MVP at ABCD camp his senior year of high school. His mother was gorgeous she use to tape our games I think she was Ms. Sweden 1983 ) Wally szerbiak, Allan ray.
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Lamar Odom was never coming to SJU.
He had no grades and had to "settle" for Jim Harrick and URI. We never had a shot.

Claxton was locked up early by Hofstra and no big schools showed interest until very late in his senior season and he was not un-commiting (we didnt pursue him anyway).

Green was a tough one - that was the first very good local kid that Norm got beaten on.
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Pretty sure Fran pursued him when he got hired, which was late in the game. But couldn't convince him to un-commit.
 
Me.
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Explain? joke?

I've never really considered this, because for most years and recruits, I've just gotten used to the reality of being a bridesmaid. So, when we get a plum like Jordan, or Artest, or Harkless, I'm pleasantly surprised. Actually, Lavin has assembled more talent quicker than any coach we've had in my lifetime.
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While not under the same circumstances, and not as quickly, in his 2 years here FF went out and got:

Artest
Barkley
Jessie
Crooks
Felton
Glover
Bootsy

All top 100 ranked kids except Bootsy, who was a JC AA. Not to shabby.

Jarvis got amongst others:
Cook
Keita
Diakete
Cuffe
Shaw
Hatten
Hamilton
Ingram
King
Showtime

Also all high ranked kids.

Even BM got:
Felipe
Z
Turner
McLoed
grant
Postell
James Scott
etc

So while much is made out of Lavin's recruiting prowess, these guys were not exactly chopped liver. And I will argue that they all recruited much more well balanced teams.
 
Kenny smith , Kenny Anderson , Quincy douby, Lamar odom , Jamal mashburn , Smush Parker , Andre Barrett , speedy Claxton , Charlie Villanueva , mike James , Elton brand, jermaine Lawrence , Hilton Armstrong , Tobias Harris , devin ebanks, Danny green, Tom gugliotta, Julius hodge , Kevin jones, doron lamb, Scott machado, joakim Noah (born in France came here when he was 8, lived 58st Central Park west until he went to college. Played on the same AAU team as him , we also played on many teams together in the 92st Y in manhattan , he use to tell me that he wanted to go to St. John's when we were 12/13 years old , but that was also before he grew 8 inches and also became MVP at ABCD camp his senior year of high school. His mother was gorgeous she use to tape our games I think she was Ms. Sweden 1983 ) Wally szerbiak, Allan ray.
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Most of those guys were never coming to St. Johns. Certainly not Smith, Anderson, Mashburn, Barrett(we got Cook), Hodge, etc. We missed the boat on Sczerbiak, who I heard say on a recent broadcast that he would have loved to have come to St. John's, but they couldn't offer him playing time. Think we overlooked Gugliotta as well, But there may have been a Valvano personal relationship that was to strong for us to compete with.
 
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