Rick Pitino is off to the races to enhance St. John’s roster
Rick Pitino and his teaching employees have been busy for the reason that second his introductory press convention ended, actively recruiting a number of intriguing prospects for the approaching season.
The Corridor of Fame coach has mentioned he expects to usher in as many as eight new gamers, with questions nonetheless left unanswered about gamers on the present roster.
Sophomores O’Mar Stanley and Rafael Pinzon have entered the switch portal, and extra teammates are anticipated to observe.
Joel Soriano, already named the staff’s captain by Pitino, is a lock to return, and Drissa Traore, Mohamed Keita, Posh Alexander and AJ Storr are all prospects to come back again.
Highschool recruit Harrison Reede opened up his recruitment on Friday, whereas signed recruits Brandon Gardner and Yaxel Lendeborg have spoken to the employees and stay dedicated in the meanwhile.
By way of 4 days of Pitino’s tenure, here’s a take a look at among the Purple Storm’s high targets:
Walter Clayton Jr.
The Iona switch and MAAC Participant of the Yr started an official go to at Florida on Friday and can go to St. John’s subsequent week.
These two faculties are the sophomore’s sole focus proper now, he instructed The Submit.
The nation’s high free-throw shooter at 95.3 p.c and a 43.1 p.c 3-point shooter, the Lake Wales, Fla., native plans to decide within the subsequent few weeks, if not sooner.
Chris Ledlum
Probably the greatest gamers within the Ivy League, the 6-foot-6 Ledlum averaged 18.8 factors and eight.5 rebounds this previous season at Harvard.
He’s a Brooklyn native, which may give St. John’s an edge if the senior ahead desires to come back residence.
Competitors might be powerful.
UCLA, Villanova and Michigan are among the many events.
The expert Ledlum could be a robust complement up entrance subsequent to Soriano.
Nick Timberlake
A switch from Towson of the CAA, the 6-4 Timberlake is a premier long-range shooter, averaging 17.7 factors and capturing 41.6 p.c from deep, who performs with an edge.
As with Ledlum, a bunch of high-profile faculties are after Timberlake, a two-time All-CAA choice. St. John’s is clearly capturing excessive on the switch market.
Pitino and firm can have an in-home go to with Timberlake on Monday, in response to a supply.
Indiana, Auburn, Connecticut, North Carolina and Maryland, are amongst these concerned.
Garwey Twin
Assistant coach Taliek Brown met with the top-100 highschool prospect on Thursday at his highschool, Southern California Academy, in northwestern Los Angeles County.
The 6-5 Twin was a Windfall commit earlier than coach Ed Cooley left for Georgetown, and opened up his recruitment.
Whereas St. John’s might be lively on the switch market, the multi-talented Twin is one highschool prospect the brand new teaching employees is targeted on.