Daniel Martin

The Road to St. John’s Basketball: Dwayne Polee II Before the Red Storm

May 17, 2011 by Daniel Martin Leave a Comment

Steve Lavin made it clear from the time he was hired at St. John’s that there were changes to be made.

When Ron Roberts, a New Jersey swingman who had committed under former coach Norm Roberts, decommitted from St. John’s, the field was open for Lavin to make his first big move as head coach.

Meanwhile on the West Coast, Westchester HS (CA) forward Dwayne Polee II was being courted by schools like Oregon, Arizona, Georgia, and UNLV. When Lavin jumped into the mix for the lanky 6’7″ swingman, the Red Storm were right in the thick of his recruitment. Within five weeks, Polee signed his National Letter of Intent to play for St. John’s and the Lavin Era was officially underway.

Polee II is the son of Los Angeles-area legend and Clippers draft pick Dwayne Polee Sr. Both men were named Los Angeles City Section Player of the Year during their respective high school careers, becoming the second father-son combination to win the honor.

While in 9th grade, Polee II committed to play for Southern California and head coach Tim Floyd. After Floyd resigned in June, 2009 on the heels of a scandal involving current Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo, Polee II decommitted.

In the five whirlwind weeks that followed Steve Lavin’s hiring at St. John’s, fans were introduced to, familiarized with, and welcomed Polee II to Queens.

Many were mesmerized by Polee II’s incredible athleticism, captured in online videos that circulated quickly throughout the fanbase. Coming from the West Coast, he was widely unknown other than these mixtapes, so the interest grew to see Polee II at St. John’s revamped Midnight Madness Tip-Off in October.

polee dunk — Polee had one of his best games of the season in the opener against St. Mary's. (Photo: Facebook)

As many expected, the athleticism was undoubtedly there, but the rest of his game was still unproven.

Polee II came out of the gate fast, scoring 16 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 2 steals in St. John’s season-opening loss to St. Mary’s. Once again, his athleticism was on display, and he began to show the other parts of his game on both ends of the floor.

He maintained a spot in the starting lineup throughout the season at the power forward position, usually playing the first few minutes, before Lavin substituted his athleticism for the size of graduating senior Justin Burrell.

Though there were times of struggle for Polee II in his first season, there were also times of great promise.

With nine seniors graduating, he and rising junior Malik Stith remain the only players on the roster with Division I experience. He will be surrounded with players similar to himself next season, including freshmen Maurice Harkless, Jakarr Sampson, and Norvel Pelle, which will increase competition for minutes and, the coaching staff hopes, overall play.

Polee II and his long, lanky frame make him a prized piece of Steve Lavin’s full-court pressure, as he has shown a nose for the basketball on the defensive end. He should continue to improve rolling to the ball around the basket, blocking shots when helping on defense, as well as turning that defensive effort into points. He will also need to continue to add weight to be able to rebound down on the block against the size of other big men in the Big East.

Offensively, Polee II averaged just over 4.5 points in his freshman season. He still needs to work on his ballhandling, which will allow him to get to the basket and finish with the size and vertical that few others have. His go-to move was on display last season, when he dribbles across the lane and pulls up for a jumper, a shot he hits with relative consistency.

Polee II’s development in Year Two will not only go a long way in dictating what the rest of his time in Queens will be like, but will also spur or stunt the progress of the nine newcomers. With no proven scorer at the D-I level, Lavin could work an offense that features Polee II more, so long as his ballhandling in traffic improves. Expect him to be the starter to begin the season, but he will have to work hard and prove himself to maintain it. If he plays like he did in St. John’s NCAA Tournament game against Gonzaga when he had 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals, he will be on the right track as he heads into his sophomore season.

If you missed the first installment of this series, check out Justin Brownlee, Before the Red Storm.

Check back to Johnny Jungle for the third installment, when we take a look at Malik Stith, On The Road to St. John’s Basketball.

The Road to St. John’s Basketball: Justin Brownlee Before the Red Storm

May 14, 2011 by Daniel Martin Leave a Comment

The video above may be surprising to many Red Storm fans, as the junior college Justin Brownlee has only some resemblance to the one who spent two years in Queens.

He averaged close to 20 points per game at City College of San Francisco, and the video below shows just how dominant he was. We saw only flashes of this incredible athleticism from Brownlee during his time at St. John’s, but he became a well-rounded post player during his senior season.

beforejohnniesbrownlee — Brownlee became a complete player in his two years at St. John's and hopes to play at the next level. (Photo: East Coast Bias)

The Tifton, Georgia native had less flashy alley-oops and more smooth fall-away jumpers in his time with the Johnnies, and he was an integral part of the Red Storm’s run to the NCAA Tournment, despite playing part of the season with a fractured thumb.

After averaging nearly 7 points in 18 minutes per game as a junior, Brownlee came out of the gate in his senior season showing the athleticism and polished game that made him such a force at Chipola Community College and CCSF. Under coach Steve Lavin, Brownlee averaged 12 more minutes per game and capitalized on the opportunity. He averaged 12 points and 5 rebounds in 2010-2011 and won Most Outstanding Player of both the Great Alaska Shootout and the Aeropostale Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden.

Former coach Norm Roberts nabbed Brownlee off the open market as part of his four-man 2009 recruiting class. The 6’7″ forward was drawing interest from others high-major schools, including Arizona, Memphis, Tennessee, and Kansas. Near the end of the season, Brownlee was popping up on numerous NBA Draft boards and, though he has slipped, expect him to get some workouts from teams.

For his size, he is smooth and has a high basketball IQ. Though Lavin tamed his itch to shoot from the outside, he can hit that shot, if he is open. He is also a good passer and has his moments defensively. Last season, he was the Johnnies’ best finisher at the rim and can play above the rim, as he showed with his highlight-reel dunk in a blowout of Duke in late January. It will be interesting to see if an NBA team takes a chance on signing him and, if they do, they could find a solid, multi-talented player at the next level.

Check back to Johnny Jungle for the second installment in this ongoing series, when we profile rising-sophomore Dwayne Polee II.

St. John’s Prospects Tip Off at iS8 in Queens

May 13, 2011 by Daniel Martin Leave a Comment

The iS8 playoffs tip off this weekend and the schedule is full of incoming and possible future St. John’s talent. The playoffs will take place at 108-35, 167th Street, Jamaica, NY. This will be fans’ first chance to see future members of the Red Storm before they step under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

Moe Harkless

mauriceharklessheadshot — (Photo: ny2lasports)

Harkless, who won the Most Outstanding Player for the East squad at the 2011 All-American Championship in Houston, comes into this tournament with quite a bit of intrigue surrounding him. His name has been abuzz since he committed to St. John’s in late August, and the more fans see of his game, the more they like it. He is smooth in the half-court and in transition and already has a polished mid-range game.

He will play alongside his future teammate at St. John’s, Jakarr Sampson, on Saturday at 4:30pm. If they win, their next game would be on Sunday at 12:30pm.

Jakarr Sampson

As was mentioned above, Sampson will be playing alongside Harkless this weekend with their team, Real Scout. So far, the team is 4-0 in pool play this Spring and it will be interesting to see how the two play together, as they could both be part of the starting frontcourt in Queens next season.

Rumors floated around that Sampson would be ruled academically ineligible coming out of Brewster Academy (NH), but those have been proven false. With those rumblings now behind him, Sampson has continued to develop as a player, leading SNY’s Jon Rothstein to praise him as a long, athletic forward who could be a force next year for the Red Storm.

Once again, he and Harkless play for Real Scout on Saturday at 4:30pm and, if they win, at 12:30pm on Sunday.

Sir’Dom Pointer

Pointer has been the most impressive in his development over the past year, especially since signing his National Letter of Intent in November. He has shot up ESPNU’s recruiting rankings for the Class of 2011, settling in at #24. Before the season began, he was rated in the mid-60s and, stretching back to this time last year, was thought to be a mid-major recruit. He has flourished at Quality Education Academy, becoming a powerful, true small forward with impressive defensive instincts and a developing game on the offensive end.

Pointer will play for Sean Bell All-Stars, alongside Louisville-bound Angel Nunez and Pittsburgh-bound big man Khem Birch, on Saturday at 5:45pm and, with at victory, on Sunday at 2:00pm.

Jevon Thomas

One player to keep an eye on, who has already committed to the Red Storm for the Class of 2012, is New York City product, point guard Jevon Thomas. Playing his high school ball at Our Savior New American, Thomas has stood out as an incredibly quick playmaker and difference-maker on both ends of the floor. Though he is only 5’11”, 170 pounds, he gets to the basket and finishes with consistency. If his commitment is solid and he signs with the Red Storm in the fall, he will be Lavin’s second major New York prospect who has been persuaded to stay in the city.

Thomas with play with Juice on Friday night at 7pm and, with a victory, on Saturday at 10:15am.

Amir Garrett

The 6’6” swingman from Findlay Prep flew into New York on Thursday night and has been active on his Twitter account with excitement about being in the city. Based purely on athleticism and jumping ability, Garrett is possibly the most exciting incoming player in this class. He has become a YouTube sensation with his highlight reel dunks, including winning the Ball Is Life Slam Dunk Contest earlier this year with a number of jaw-dropping throwdowns.

He has slipped toward the bottom of ESPNU’s Top 100 for the Class of 2011, but, rankings aside, St. John’s is still getting a prospect with a ton of upside, especially under the tutelage of Steve Lavin. From Day 1, Garrett will bring athleticism and an unrelenting motor to Lavin’s full-court press and matchup zone, which will create a lot of problems for opposing teams.

Garrett will take the court with the New York Panthers on Saturday at 9am at the Variety Boys & Girls Club (2112 30th Road, Queens, [30th Road, between 21st and 23rd Streets]). If they win, they will play at the iS8 gym in Jamaica (108-35, 167th Street) at 12:45pm.

Top 5 Moments from the 2010-2011 St. John’s Basketball Season

May 13, 2011 by Daniel Martin 1 Comment

The 2010-2011 season was the most memorable season for this St. John’s program in nearly a decade. Here is a recap of the Top 5 moments:

#5: St. John’s Wins Great Alaska Shootout

After St. John’s lost their opener on the road to St. Mary’s and beat Columbia at home, the Johnnies were looking to make a statement when they traveled to Anchorage for the 2010 Great Alaska Shootout. And that is just what they did. After squeaking by Ball State in the first round, winning 79-73 in overtime, the Red Storm set a tournament record for fewest points allowed in the next round, beating Drake 82-39.

The Johnnies faced a formidable Pac-10 opponent in Arizona State in the championship game and, despite 22 points by the Sun Devils’ Ty Abbott, the Johnnies prevailed, 67-58. Senior forward Justin Brownlee showed the results of his off-season workouts, showcasing polished post moves and a solid all-around game. He averaged 17.7 points per game in the three games up north and took home the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award.

#4: Justin Brownlee’s Putback Sinks G’Town at the Garden

To open the Big East schedule at home under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, the Johnnies took on long-time rival Georgetown. And, little did Red Storm fans know, this was just the beginning of the drama in Manhattan.

With the ball at the top of the key as the seconds wound down in the 2nd half, Dwight Hardy pulled a wicked in-and-out dribble that broke the ankles of Georgetown forward Jason Clark. He missed the layup, but Justin Brownlee was there to put it back up with 10 seconds to go, giving the Johnnies the 61-58 victory. Brownlee finished with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Georgetown became the first giant to fall to St. John’s at the Garden and the win thrust the Red Storm back into the national college basketball conversation, as they began the Big East season 3-0.

#3: UConn Becomes Third Top 10 Team to Lose at the Garden

Oh, how sweet it was. After beating Georgetown and Duke, it seemed the Johnnies were due to be woken up from their dream. But, that would not be so; at least not on this night. Dwight Hardy, fresh off his career-high 32 points against UCLA, dropped 33 points on the eventual national champions and the Johnnies celebrated their third victory over a Top 10 team.

Kemba Walker was held to just 15 points on 4/16 shooting and the Huskies struggled to get anything going offensively, losing 89-72.

#2: Johnnies Take Down Defending Champion Duke

Every year, St. John’s circles the date on the calender when Duke comes to town. Unfortunately for the Red Storm, the series had been dominated by the Blue Devils in the past decade. But, when the defending national champions took the court at Madison Square Garden on January 30th, 2011, something was different. The Johnnies came out of the gate with great energy, dictating the pace and getting ahead early. At the half, St. John’s led 46-25, and thoughts of the last huge Johnny win over the Dukies began to creep into fans minds:

The Red Storm came out of the half with the same intensity, holding off a few pushes by the Blue Devils and getting the victory, 93-78. Duke turned the ball over 17 times in the game, which allowed St. John’s to run the floor and work in transition, where they thrived. Five Johnnies scored in double figures, led by Dwight Hardy’s 26 and Justin Brownlee’s 20.

#1 Dwight Hardy’s Baseline Pirouette Stuns Pitt

There is little discussion as to what is the biggest moment of this past season. Among all of the great moments, there is one that sticks out boldly and brightly.

Dwight Hardy’s improbable dance along the baseline and twisting, turning layup sent #4 Pittsburgh home with a 60-59 loss and all but guaranteed the Johnnies a berth in the NCAA Tournament. It was not Hardy’s most impressive outing statistically, as he finished with 19 points on 4/10 shooting, but his composure in the clutch made an indelible mark on the history of St. John’s basketball and carved out a moment that will never be forgotten.

Check out multiple angles of the shot here.

Manhattan to Manhattan: Omari Lawrence Looks for Success at Kansas State

May 11, 2011 by Daniel Martin 9 Comments

When former St. John’s swingman Omari Lawrence looks around and takes a moment to absorb the landscape that surrounds Concordia, Kansas, he is reminded that he is far from the brick buildings and concrete streets of his hometown, the Bronx.

“Things in Kansas are slow and quiet. It’s mostly farmland,” said Lawrence. “I’m usually either at school, working on my game, or studying.”

Here in Kansas, there is no rumble of subway trains underfoot or corner stores on every block. The state has no major professional sports teams from the four major sports and is bisected by Interstate 70, which runs from Missouri in the east to Colorado in the west. The entire state of Kansas has a population of 2.8 million, roughly one third the population of New York City alone.

Omari Lawrence will continue his road back to Division I basketball next year at Kansas State. (Photo: Icon/SMI)

This city kid, born and raised, has officially traded the playgrounds of New York City for the fields of eastern Kansas, but the goal is still the same: play high-major Division I basketball.

Lawrence starred at St. Raymond’s (NY) his junior year of high school, averaging 18.2 points per game before transferring to South Kent (CT) for his senior season.

In the summer before his senior year, Lawrence tore his labrum at an NBA Top 100 camp, causing him to miss the summer AAU circuit and a few games that coming season. While rehabbing the shoulder, he gained some unwanted weight and scouts argued he had lost the explosiveness that made him so effective at St. Raymond’s.

The lefty still garnered high-major interest from schools such as UConn, Louisville, and Xavier, but committed to play for former St. John’s coach Norm Roberts in August, 2008. He was part of a four-man class that also included current graduating seniors Dwight Hardy, Justin Brownlee, and now-rising junior Malik Stith.

At the time, Roberts was praised for keeping highly-touted talent in New York City, and the Hardy-Lawrence combination became the face of a new era. Perhaps this was the moment when St. John’s would surge back as a major recruiting force in the tri-state area.

“I chose St. John’s because of the coaching staff,” Lawrence said, looking back on his recruitment. “They made me feel like family. Plus, I wanted to stay close to home.”

But, his freshman season in Queens was not without struggles.

Playing just over nine minutes per game, Lawrence averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds off the bench for the Red Storm. The pace of the college game was difficult for him, at times, and he still had not shed the extra pounds he put on following his shoulder injury, listed at 215 pounds.

“Transitioning from high school to college is a big step,” he said. “I’ve learned that nothing is given to you. You have to work hard every day and continuously get better.”

After Norm Roberts was dismissed following the 2009-2010 season, Lawrence was at a crossroads. He and Roberts were close, saying that they always had “open lines of communication” and were always clear with each other.

“When he left, my family and I wanted a new change of environment for me,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence said he talked with Steve Lavin a few times after he was hired as the new head coach at St. John’s, but the lure of starting over somewhere new was too strong. He filed his papers to transfer in May, 2010.

Once back on the market, Kansas State and head coach Frank Martin were the first to reach out to Lawrence.

“I liked the honesty coach had with me. [He told me] I would have to come there and really work hard and earn everything I receive,” Lawrence said.

Xavier was once again in the mix, along with Southern California, but he ultimately signed to play with the first school to court him, and was headed to play for the Wildcats.

Lawrence spent this past season at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas, working on his game and hitting the books. “My coach out here has been able to train me hard every day and get me ready for Kansas State,” he said.

And the hard work is paying off.

The high school weight gain is officially off. Lawrence has slimmed down to 200 pounds and is toned up, becoming visibly more muscular and athletic. He is looking to recapture the explosiveness and scoring ability he had before the shoulder injury set him back.

Wildcats head coach Frank Martin is known as an enforcer who expects a lot from his players, and the hard-working Lawrence hopes to fit in well. He joins a program that has traditionally recruited New York talent, including graduating senior Curtis Kelly, who found success after transferring from UConn in 2008.

“They need a slasher and, if I work hard, everything will work out,” Lawrence said.

With an increase in minutes from the time he saw at St. John’s, the Bronx native will more readily adjust to the pace of Division I ball and could flourish at Kansas State. His muscular frame, paired with his new-found explosiveness, will benefit him on the offensive end when he attacks the basket. He is still working to polish a consistent mid-range game, but is looking forward to working with the Kansas State staff to grow as a player.

“The community welcomed me with open arms here and never made me feel like an outcast. I’m just thankful Kansas State is giving me a second chance.” -Omari Lawrence

At St. John’s, he was strongest on the defensive end and that will translate well for next season. His hustle cannot be underestimated and, just like on the offensive end, his new physical shape will help him excel.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect coming out here, but I’m happy with my decision,” said Lawrence of deciding to go to school in the Midwest. “The community welcomed me with open arms here and never made me feel like an outcast. I’m just thankful Kansas State is giving me a second chance.”

When Lawrence takes the floor next year in Wildcat purple and silver, it will still be in a Manhattan, just a much smaller, skyscraper-free Kansas version. He continues to build his support network of family and friends, who he credits for having helped him cope with his big transition. Among them is good friend and graduating St. John’s guard Dwight Hardy, a fellow Bronx native who spent time at junior college as well in his career.

“[Hardy] told me that this is just a new start for me,” Lawrence said.

And, as grand as the change seems, that is exactly how the former Johnny is looking at it: “just a new start.”

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