BIG EAST RECRUITING REPORT: ST. JOHN'S

August 16, 2006


COMMITMENT ALERT: Malik Boothe (PG), Christ The King HS (NYC)


Projected 2007-2008 Roster:


SENIORS: Eugene Lawrence (G), Avery Patterson (SG)
JUNIORS: Anthony Mason (F), Ricky Torres (SG), Tomas Jasiulionis F/C)
SOPHOMRES: Larry Wright (G), Qa'rraan Calhoun (F), Rob Thomas (F), Derwin Kitchen (SG)
FRESHMEN: Justin Burrell (PF), Malik Boothe (PG)




Norm Roberts continues to work hard repairing the relationship and reputation that St. John's has with the New York City basketball community and took a nice step forward once again yesterday by receiving a verbal commitment from Christ the King PG Malik Boothe: Boothe Picks Redstorm (NY Post).

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Malik Boothe is an old-school PG that will work hard to get everyone involved on the offensive end and give his all on the other end of the court. Deceptively strong, Boothe uses his strength very well on the defensive side despite his 5'8 stature. The ultra-quick floor general has an excellent understanding on how to run a team. He will likely never be much of a scorer (averaged under 7 PPG as a HS junior), but he knows his role and plays to it as well as anyone. He does have the potential to keep defenses honest with a jump shot, but still needs to improve the consistency, especially out to the 3-pt lane. On a projected roster that has a lot of athletic wings, the true PG was a position of need and Norm Roberts filled the role very well with the addition of Boothe, who chose SJU over Clemson and had strong interest in Providence, among others.

Boothe is the second commitment in the class of 2007 joining 5th year prep Justin Burrell, who committed last season. Burrell is a fast-rising strong and athletic PF that is just scratching the surface of his potential. He is a very active player in the frontcourt known for his powerful finishes around the rim. As his game matures (a relative newcomer to organized basketball) he should really be able to take off as a player. He does need to learn some of the finer points of the game and keep improving his ballhandling, passing and shooting, but with the effort and athleticism he brings, he will add another very valuable element to the ever-improving Redstorm.

With NYC products Boothe and Burrell in the fold, St. John's looks to have 11 players set for scholarships in the 2007-2008 season currently, leaving two grants open. The biggest glaring hole on the St. John's roster is in the middle. With their need for size, St. John's has made South Kent Prep's Ayodele "Dele" Coker a high priority. Coker is a physical post player that has caught the eye of schools like Indiana, Kentucky and others with his post presence this summer and would be a valuable addition. Another player the Redstorm have been seen evaluating very intensly this summer has been Hamidu Rahman, the 6'11 NJ native now playing at American Christian in PA. Rahman is another big body that takes up space and is improving as he develops more and more basketball skill. Both Coker and Rahman play against top-flight competition year-round and are learning to use their large frames against other players their size. Another player known for using his size is Brian Williams of NYC (now playing at Harmony Prep in OH). Williams is another player that many high-majors, including the Redstorm, have evaluated often. Williams does have to control his weight and improve his conditioning, but he has excellent hands and is more advanced with his footwork than many at this stage. He is not afraid to pummel an opponent with his size. Brandon Walters of Lincoln, HS in Brooklyn is not as physical as the other big man targets, but he has some impressive upside with his athletic ability and skills to step away from the hoop to knock down a jumper out to the 3-pt line. Walters is a high-upside player that could turn into an excellent player as he gets stronger and more intense inside. One of the top post men in the nation has long seen interest from St. John's, but Solomon Alabi is no longer a player under the national radar and, like Coker, the competition for his commitment has grown by the day. It will be a longshot to land Alabi as it looks like he will stay close to his adopted home in Florida. 6'10 Todd O'Brien of New Holland, PA has also been a player that SJU has been recruiting rather aggressively during the evaluation period and recently made a trip to the Queens campus.

With the final scholarship currently open, the Redstorm have many irons in the fire with players of all different positions, mostly at the SF spot. One combo forward that SJU would love to nab is Tyrone Nash, who recently spurned several 2006 offers, one from Kentucky, to prep another year. Nash is also spotted often around the SJU campus. Another combo forward that has long been on the SJU radar is Idris Hilliard and the Johnnies have also been very involved with some athletic wings such as NYC's Jamine "Greedy" Peterson and Alvin Mitchell of Florida. A couple other guards that continue to show interest in St. John's include Tony Neysmith of Georgia, Thomas Manzano of Genesis One Prep (originally from NYC) and Miles Beattly of St. Anthony's in NJ.

Personally, I would like to see SJU add a true C and any of the players mentioned above would be an excellent addition and then possibly even look at adding a JUCO big man as well. If a Nash or a Neysmith was willing to pull the trigger, I think they have to take them, but they are definitely on the right track in exploring as many big men as possible. As they continue their ascension back up the Big East rankings, shoring up the middle for their future is the direction they need to concentrate on now.

In any event, things are definitely more exciting now with Norm Roberts. Now, winning on the court will help give the program another push to finish the rebuilding on the recruiting trail.