Johnny Jungle

The 6th Man of St. John's Basketball

For the die hard St. John's fan.
The unofficial 6th man. est. '07
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Former St. John’s Forward Dwayne Polee II Will Transfer to San Diego State

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Dwayne Polee II, who announced he was transferring from the St. John’s program last month, has confirmed, via his Twitter account, that he is headed to San Diego State.

Dwayne Polee II will head to San Diego State to play for head coach Steve Fisher. (Photo: Facebook)
When the announcement of his transfer became public, sources told JohnnyJungle.com that the Aztecs had a great deal of interest in the 6’7″ Los Angeles native.

San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher, who previously coached Michigan’s famed “Fab 5” in the early 1990s, brought his team to the Sweet 16 this past season, before losing to eventual national champion Connecticut.

The lanky and athletic Polee II will join a program that is quickly gaining national respect under Fisher and finished 6th in the AP poll in 2010-2011.

In his one season with the Red Storm, Polee II averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 33 games. As a senior at Westchester (CA), he was named Los Angeles City Section Player of the Year. He had previously committed to Southern California as a freshman in high school, but decommitted, following the resignation of head coach Tim Floyd.

More information will be added as it becomes available to JohnnyJungle.com.

The Week That Was: College Basketball News, Week of June 6, 2011

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The head coaching carousel may have stopped spinning, but these new coaches are now filling out their staffs. Transfers are also landing in new places, and a few remaining 2011 commits are signing their names on the dotted line. JohnnyJungle.com takes a look at some of the big headlines of the week that was:

(Photo: Icon/SMI Select)
Lamont “Momo” Jones Transfers to Iona

After much speculation, former Arizona guard Lamont Jones will come to the tri-state area, but not to play for Seton Hall, UConn, or St. John’s. Instead, Jones will head to New Rochelle, NY to play for the Gaels.

Check out JohnnyJungle.com’s coverage.
Also, take a look at the report from Mark Singelais of the Albany Times-Union.

(Photo: CollegiateHoops.net)
DeAndre Daniels commits to UConn

The Huskies got a big addition to their 2011 recruiting class as the swingman from IMG Academy in Florida (the same school as St. John’s signee Phil Greene) turned down a host of other schools to say he is heading to Storrs.

LJWorld.com tries to sift through the confusion here.

(Photo: BlackburnReview.com)
Juwan Staten transfers to West Virginia

In transfer news elsewhere in the Big East, West Virginia picked up a commitment from former Dayton guard Juwan Staten. The Ohio native averaged over 8 points and 5 assists per game this past year, as a freshman.

WVIllustrated.com fills in the details.

(Photo: Campus Sports Connection)
Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton Resigns

Amid problems with the university’s basketball and football programs, Tennessee’s athletic director has stepped down.

Megan Boehnke of GoVolsXtra.com has a report on the financial implications of the move.

(Photo: Navy Sports)
Chambers begins building his staff at Penn State

Former Boston University Patrick Chambers was hired earlier this month in hopes that he will turn around the basketball program at Penn State. He has begun filling out his staff by adding former Navy assistant Eugene Burroughs.

GoPSUSports.com has the full story release.

(Photo: Blogspot)
Hewitt Adds NBA Veteran to Staff at George Mason

Former Georgia Tech and current George Mason head coach Paul Hewitt rounded out his Patriot staff by adding former Washington Wizards assistant Mike Wells. After long-time coach Jim Larranaga left for Miami (FL), the job fell to Hewitt to keep the perennial CAA powerhouse at even keel.

GMUHoops.com has more on the news.

The Road to St. John’s Basketball: DJ Kennedy Before the Red Storm

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Before “Big Play” DJ Kennedy made his way to Queens, he was already playing basketball in the spotlight.

As part of the Pennsylvania Boys’ Class AAAA Championship team at Schenley High School (PA) in 2007, he played alongside current San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair on a squad that finished 29-3. While Blair decided to stay in town to play college ball at Pittsburgh, Kennedy headed to New York City to play for Norm Roberts at St. John’s.

Arriving in Queens, Kennedy did not start out as the focal point, either. After an impressive freshman season by forward Justin Burrell, Kennedy looked to be the swingman complement to another dominant big man down low. In his freshman year, Kennedy played 27 minutes per game, averaging nearly 8 points and 6 rebounds.

Kennedy is currently rehabbing the knee injury he suffered during the Big East Tournament against Syracuse. (Photo: Zimbio)
But, after a facial fracture sidelined Burrell, Kennedy had to step up in his sophomore season. Playing seven more minutes per game, Kennedy nearly doubled his scoring output, averaging 13 points and almost 7 rebounds. He also began to show his ability to fill up the stat sheet, adding 3 assists per game.

When the dawn of his junior year came, hopes were high and expectations were even higher. The Red Storm added four quality recruits to the roster, including two junior college transfers, Justin Brownlee and Dwight Hardy. Kennedy was made to be the leader from the outset and, though the team fell short of expectations, the 6’6” swingman had the best season of his college career.

Averaging 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, he gained a reputation as one of the most versatile players in the Big East. His length allowed him to not only attack the basket to score points, but he shot a career-high 38% from 3-pt range. He led the Red Storm in nearly every major statistical category and became a team leader, going into his senior season.

Under the new Lavin administration, Kennedy moved from the spotlight to a complementary role, alongside Hardy and Brownlee. His greatest contributions came on defense and on the boards, as well as being a more-than-viable third option in Lavin’s offense.

His most impressive game came February 10th at Madison Square Garden against UConn, when he scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in an 89-72 victory.

Unfortunately, in the Big East Tournament against Syracuse, Kennedy went down with a knee injury early in the first half, an injury that cut his season short. The Pittsburgh native had successful surgery to repair the knee and is working through the 8 month rehab process on his road back to basketball.

Though he had to watch his team take part in the NCAA Tournament from the sidelines, DJ Kennedy’s mark on this program will be indelible. During his senior season, he passed St. John’s legend Walter Barry on the Johnnies’ all-time scoring list. He will be remembered as one of the integral pieces that helped turn this St. John’s program around. Without David J. Kennedy and the rest of these seniors, the national Red Storm brand would not be what it is today, on its way toward being one of the most recognizable in the country.

Check out JohnnyJungle.com’s previous Road to St. John’s pieces on Dwayne Polee II, Malik Stith, and Paris Horne.

Cincinnati Reds Select St. John’s Signee Amir Garrett In Major League Baseball Draft

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The talk of St. John’s, ironically, has been more about something between the chalk lines on the baseball diamond than anything on the hardwood.

The First Year Major League Baseball Player Draft got underway Monday night and Amir Garrett, the athletic swingman from Findlay Prep (NV) who is signed to play basketball with the Red Storm, was anxiously awaiting the call. He would have to wait until Tuesday to hear his name, but in the 22nd round, with the 685th overall pick, he heard it: “The Cincinnati Reds select Amir Garrett, a left-handed pitcher from Findlay Prep, Nevada.”

“Man all I can say is its a blessing,” Garrett told JohnnyJungle.com after he got the news. “It’s just a great feeling to get a call like that. I give glory to God. That’s all I can do.”

And, with that, Garrett is faced with possibly the biggest decision of his young life.

Two-sport athletes come along every once in a while, but Garrett’s case is particularly intriguing for one reason: as a lefty pitcher, he hasn’t thrown in a live game since June 2010.

But, after two months getting back into baseball shape, he was hitting in the mid-90s on his fastball and scouts were impressed with the potential of the 6’5” California native.

The Decision At Hand

Though there is still much to be proven on the diamond for Garrett, his upside could be tremendous. Already reportedly hitting the mid-90s on his fastball, his ceiling is high. His skill set is something that coaches can mold and develop because he already has natural physical gifts that cannot be taught. Because he is of such a rare size and build, he has excelled in two sports, which speaks to his overall athleticism and versatility.

We have seen two sport athletes in college, including Chicago Bears lineman Julius Peppers, who played football and basketball at North Carolina, and NFL great Tony Gonzalez, who did the same at California.

Amir Garrett was selected in the 22nd round by the Cincinnati Reds. (Photo: Photoshelter)
So, it would seem that Garrett could continue pitching at St. John’s, which has a well-regarded program, while still playing basketball. But, in response to a fan’s question on his Twitter page last night, Garrett has made it clear that will not happen, bluntly saying, “I’m not playing baseball at St. John’s.”

In that same conversation, when the fan said “See you at MSG in ’11-’12”, Garrett responded with “I’ll be there.” He added this evening, in response to Providence commit Kiwi Gardner, something that may be comforting to fans who would like to see him in Queens next season.

Those few hints are the latest on Amir Garrett’s decision, indicating that he is coming to St. John’s, despite this selection in the MLB Draft. But is a conversational statement on Twitter enough to set it in stone? With the whirlwind of rumors surrounding the situation, Garrett says he has still yet to make a definitive decision.

As far as his basketball career, he would be in a good position if he does indeed come to the Red Storm. He is already a Top 100 player in the Class of 2011 and, despite not necessarily being the most publicized recruit in the incoming class, indications are that he will be an integral part of the Red Storm gameplan next season.

At 6’5” and incredibly athletic, he is the prototypical player for Lavin’s up-tempo, defense-generating-offense approach. He may not be an NBA prospect right now, but with a few years under Lavin’s tutelage, his name could pop up on some draft boards.

He is still developing his mid-range game offensively, but he finishes at the rim with authority and flash, and has a defensive motor that runs without end.

But his road to professional basketball could be nearly as tough, for different reasons than his possible baseball path.

If he chooses to play basketball at St. John’s next season, he will be competing against top talent for playing time. Once he wins that playing time, he has to prove himself on the national stage, under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. But, to his credit, confidence doesn’t seem to be a problem for the multifaceted Garrett. In recent weeks, he has taken to his Twitter page to express the excitement he feels to come to St. John’s.

The other major incentive for Garrett to attend St. John’s is the prospect of getting an education. With his basketball scholarship, he has the opportunity for to get a degree with playing for the Red Storm. That could be something that factors into his decision, when that time comes.

He has until August 15th to sign with the Reds. Check back to JohnnyJungle.com for any breaking news on his decision.

St. John’s Basketball By The Numbers: How Will the Red Storm Replace Their Losses?

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With Malik Stith as the only returning scholarship letterwinner next season for the Red Storm, it is obvious that there are holes to be filled. But, it isn’t entirely clear until one takes a look at the numbers to see just how much production St. John’s is losing. JohnnyJungle.com breaks out the calculator and crunches the numbers to answer the ultimate question, who can step up for the Red Storm in 2011-2012?

96% – Percentage of Point Production Lost to Graduation/Transfer

Harrison is a naturally gifted scorer who should fit seamlessly into the college game.
The Facts:

Dwight Hardy and Justin Brownlee, the two leading scorers for the Red Storm last season, are gone and graduated. In fact, the last season’s top 8 scorers for St. John’s have either graduated or transferred.

To his credit, Malik Stith averaged 10.7 points/40 minutes, which means he has the potential to be a solid contributor if given a starter’s minutes. Especially early in the season, including 13 points against St. Mary’s and 10 against Arizona State, he showed that he had some scoring ability to add to his typical distribution-oriented style.

Who Steps In?:

Fortunately for the Red Storm, scoring was an obvious point of emphasis for Steve Lavin on the recruiting trail. Maurice Harkless, Jakarr Sampson, Nurideen Lindsey, Phil Greene, and God’s Gift Achiuwa all averaged close to or above 20 points per game for their respective teams last season.

But, one name stands out as the premier, Division I-ready scorer: Texas native D’Angelo Harrison. This past season as a senior, Harrison averaged 31 points for Dulles HS (TX). He is a multifaceted scorer who can shoot from distance or take it to the basket with purpose. That, coupled with his unparalleled confidence, could make him a legitimate, high-volume scorer as a freshman in the Big East.

98% – Percentage of Total Rebounds Lost to Graduation/Transfer

The 6'9", 240 lb. Achiuwa will come to St. John's with a physical build already fit for the Big East.(Photo: njcaa.org)
The Facts:

One of the biggest problems St. John’s had in their loss to Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament was the lack of size and rebounding against the Bulldogs’ size and strength. DJ Kennedy led the team with 5.6 rebounds per game last season, but was more of a perimeter rebounder than a force in the paint. In addition, he was unable to play in the tournament due to injury.

Justin Burrell was the Red Storm’s best physical rebounder, averaging close to 5 in 20 minutes per game. He is a big-framed forward off the bench that the Red Storm will miss next season.

Who Steps In?:

Up until the Spring signing period, there were concerns about incoming big men for the Red Storm because, though they had size, players like Jakarr Sampson, Norvel Pelle, and (before his transfer) Dwight Meikle are lanky and perhaps not bulky enough to throw weight around in the paint.

Then, just after Easter, St. John’s signed God’s Gift Achiuwa, the 6’9’’ 240 lb. native of Nigeria. At Erie CC (NY) this past season, he averaged 11.7 rebounds per game and is a true force in the paint. He is similar in size to Burrell and could play the same role, depending on how Steve Lavin decides to use him. Indications are that he will either start at center, or come off the bench while Norvel Pelle starts.

94% – Percentage of Total Assists lost to Graduation/Transfer

Lindsey is a dynamic scorer and will need to learn to adapt to being a true point guard under Lavin's system.
The Facts:

Point guard Malik Boothe was the team’s leading assist man last season, with nearly 3 per game. Lavin’s offense wasn’t necessarily based on distribution-style basketball because Dwight Hardy was the both starting point guard and the main scoring option. With Hardy running the point, the Red Storm also lacked a consistent outside shooter off the ball, which would have opened up the inside-out game off of Hardy’s effective dribble penetration.

Many times, Steve Lavin had Stith and Boothe on the floor at the same time, which didn’t translate into scoring, but was good at eating clock and controlling the ball. Without Boothe, Stith will be the main ball control point guard and could benefit from the other skilled scorers on the floor.

Who Will Step In?:

Though he is naturally a combo guard, the job will most likely fall to projected starting point guard Nurideen Lindsey. He is a prolific scorer, averaging 22 points per game at Redlands CC (OK) last season, but will have to facilitate the offense as well next season.

His ability to dribble penetrate will help him enormously, drawing the defense in and kicking it out to shooters like Harrison and Harkless. All of the athleticism and size down low will also benefit the Philadelphia native, as he can feed it into the post to Pelle and Sampson and work an inside-out game. Ultimately, Lindsey will be the catalyst to this offense, just as Hardy was last season.

99% – Percentage of Total Blocks Lost to Graduation/Transfer

Pelle can use his length to cause problems for opponents around the basket.
The Facts:

The Red Storm lacked a true shotblocker last season and their interior defense struggled at times because of it. Justin Brownlee led the team with 28 blocks, but that still averages out to less than one per game. Dwayne Polee II showed some bright spots rolling to help on the weak-side and block shots, but he has left the program as well.

Dele Coker, at 6’10”, had potential to be a Mutombo-like shotblocker, but he saw limited minutes and struggled to stay out of foul trouble during those minutes.

Who Will Step In?:

St. John’s will feature incredible length and versatility next season in the frontcourt, with at least three players who are potential shotblockers at the Division I level. But, of those, 6’9”, lanky forward/center Norvel Pelle will shine. His reach and length will make it tough for there to be dribble penetration into the lane and he gets blocks from the weak side, as well.

Along with Pelle, Sampson and God’s Gift will get their share of blocked shots. Sampson plays with raw ferociousness and impressive athleticism that allows him to alter shots around the rim. God’s Gift will be the “traditional” shotblocker, the big-bodied, bulky Ben Wallace-type down low.