You are here: Home / Archives for Recruiting

Brewster Academy’s JaKarr Sampson Recommits to St. John’s

March 14, 2012 By 4 Comments
JaKarr Sampson Brewster Academy

JaKarr Sampson is headed back to Queens. After being ruled ineligible at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, Sampson returned to Brewster Academy for a prep year. Though he took time to look elsewhere, Brian Snow of Scout.com is reporting that Sampson will return to St. John’s in the fall of 2012. He was being courted by Baylor, Kansas, Providence, and others. Sampson is an ultra-athletic wing and the most important target for St. John’s in the Class of 2012. His commitment to return to Queens signals a turn for the better and fruits of labor for Steve Lavin’s inroads on the recruiting trail. In the fall of 2011, in the wake of Nurideen Lindsey leaving the program and the decommitment of Darrick Wood, Norvel … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Recruiting

Nurideen Lindsey Transfers to Arkansas

January 13, 2012 By 1 Comment
NurideenLindseyClose

This post also appears on NBCSports.com's Beyond the Arc blog. After an abrupt announcement to leave St. John’s back in early December, Nurideen Lindsey has announced, via Twitter, that he will transfer to Arkansas and play for head coach Mike Anderson. “One [reason I chose St. John’s] was to be close to my mom, whose health has been up and down due to some past experiences,” said Lindsey of his original commitment to the Red Storm. “The second was to play for Coach [Steve] Lavin. In both instances it has not worked out how I envisioned.” Lavin, who continues to work back from prostate cancer surgery in the fall, has only coached in a handful of games for the Red Storm this season. Lindsey tells CBSSports.com’s … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Recruiting

Texas A&M Transfer Jamal Branch Chooses St. John’s

January 9, 2012 By 2 Comments
NCAA Basketball: Texas A&M vs Mississippi

Some time had passed since a big recruiting breakthrough came for the Red Storm, but welcome news came on Monday night. Roger Rubin of the New York Daily News first reported, and Branch later confirmed on Twitter, that the Class of 2011 guard would be headed to St. John's. Branch averaged just over four points, two rebounds, and two assists in 18 minutes per game as a freshman for Texas A&M this season under head coach Billy Kennedy. The 6-3 guard is an interesting case because he committed to play for the Aggies when Mark Turgeon was at the helm back in late 2007. Branch maintained his commitment to Texas A&M, even after Turgeon left for Maryland and Billy Kennedy took over the team. This time around, Maryland, because of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Recruiting

Bridgton Academy’s Darrick Wood Decommits from St. John’s

January 5, 2012 By 1 Comment
DarrickWoodDunk

St. John's commit Darrick Wood (Bridgton, '12) has reopened his recruitment, according to Jeremy Bauman of Five Star Basketball. "It was based off me wanting to make the right decision for my future, me being patient with the whole recruiting process and just putting myself in the best situation," Wood told Five Star. "My AAU coaches and parents just told me to take it slow and make the right decision for me. Last time, I jumped into it because I thought the situation was right for me." Wood becomes the next in line, following JaKarr Sampson, Norvel Pelle, and Ricardo Gathers, to choose to keep their options open, after initially choosing the Red Storm. Amir Garrett, who joined St. John's in December, played alongside Wood for a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Recruiting

Exclusive: Norvel Pelle Decommits From St. Johns, Will Open Up Recruitment

November 16, 2011 By 7 Comments
NorvelPellePrice2

And another chapter in the saga of Norvel Pelle's recruitment has been written. The 6'10 California native, who was ruled ineligible by the NCAA this Fall, was thought to be signing this November and joining the Red Storm in 2012. But that may no longer be the case. Multiple sources have told JohnnyJungle.com that Pelle has decommitted from St. John's and will reopen his recruitment. Touted as one of the top big men in the Class of 2011, academic questions have been raised since the latter part of Pelle's high school career. After taking summer classes in an attempt to qualify, Pelle enrolled at The Phelps School, outside of Philadelphia. A source also tells JohnnyJungle.com that Pelle's involvement with the team has been … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Recruiting Tagged With:

Source: Junior College Forward Jerry Cummings is Possible Walk-On for St. John’s

November 10, 2011 By 3 Comments
Screen Shot 2011-11-10 at 5.42.14 PM

Since news broke in September that three St. John's recruits from the Class of 2011 were to be ruled ineligible by the NCAA, questions about depth on the Red Storm roster have lingered. With indications pointing toward Amir Garrett making his St. John’s debut in the second semester, the Red Storm could have some relief in a depleted frontcourt. And more help may be on the way. Introducing, Jerry Cummings. Sources tell JohnnyJungle.com that the 6’7” swingman, who last played at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas, could possibly walk onto the Red Storm in the second semester. Cummings is not currently enrolled in classes at St. John’s and says he has not spoken to the staff, but is continuing to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Recruiting Tagged With:

Ricardo Gathers Rescinds Commitment to St. John’s, Will Sign in Spring

November 8, 2011 By 1 Comment
ricardogathers

Ed Daniels of WGNO Sports in New Orleans is reporting that Ricardo Gathers of Riverside Academy (La.) has rescinded his commitment to St. John's and will sign in the spring. Gathers, who committed to the Red Storm in the late summer, is a top 40 prospect in the Class of 2012 and was one of Steve Lavin's two commits for 2012, along with Darrick Wood of Bridgton Academy. His announcement comes on the eve of National Signing Day. As a 6'7", 240-pound forward, Gathers was seen as a piece that could solidify the Red Storm presence in the low post. Prior to committing to St. John's, he was considering LSU, Syracuse, Texas and Arizona. He was in attendance for St. John's Tip Off in October, along with Amir Garrett, Norvel Pelle, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Recruiting Tagged With:

St. John’s Commit Darrick Wood: Bridgton Academy’s Constant Scoring Threat

October 23, 2011 By 1 Comment
DarrickWoodDunk

In August, Darrick Wood watched as the NCAA ruled four of his NIA Prep (NJ) teammates ineligible to play college basketball. A few days later, the 6’3” rising senior committed to St. John’s. It was then that he knew he needed to make a change. “[NIA Prep] was having some school issues and problems with the NCAA,” Wood told JohnnyJungle.com. “I just didn’t want to be associated with that.” Wood chose to transfer to Bridgton Academy, located in small Bridgton, Maine, for his senior season, before heading to college. And along with that came an adjustment. Bridgton, Maine, boasting a population of 2,751, has very little in common with Wood’s hometown of Washington, DC, and is equally as different from Newark, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Over the Airwaves, Player Feature, Recruiting Tagged With:

Amir Garrett Enrolls at Bridgton Academy, Will Work Toward Eligibility

September 21, 2011 By 1 Comment
AmirGarrettDunk

Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv is reporting that St. John's signee Amir Garrett has enrolled at Bridgton Academy (ME) and will work toward college eligibility, in an attempt to qualify for the second semester and play for St. John's. "I would say that that’s the plan,” Bridgton coach Whit Lesure told Zagoria. "I know our college counselor was with him today and visited with me quickly." After being ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA less than a week ago, Garrett will join St. John's commit Darrick Wood at the North Bridgton, Maine prep school. Garrett will remain committed to St. John's, unlike his former fellow signee JaKarr Sampson, who is returning to Brewster Academy for a post-grad year and will reopen his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2011-2012, Over the Airwaves, Recruiting Tagged With:

Forward JaKarr Sampson Decommits from St. John’s

September 21, 2011 By 3 Comments
jakarr-sampson-12-on-his-way-to-st-johns1

Jeff Borzello of CBSSports.com is reporting that JaKarr Sampson, one of the nine newcomers signed to Steve Lavin's recruiting class of 2011, has decommitted from the Red Storm and will reopen his recruitment. This report comes less than one week after Sampson was one of three St. John's freshmen to be ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA. “[JaKarr] has decided to return to Brewster Academy as a post-grad student and to further his education to complete his academic requirement to attend college academically,” Sampson's former AAU coach Don Anderson told Borzello. Amir Garrett and Norvel Pelle, the other two incoming freshmen to be ruled ineligible, will be taking classes to work toward eligibility and be cleared to play … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2011-2012, Over the Airwaves, Recruiting
« Older Posts