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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Ich Bin Ein Air Horne Paris Signs in Germany

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It’s not the league or the player that most fans expected, but one of the ten seniors on last year’s miracle team that returned to the NCAA Tournament has allowed St. John’s University to once again lay claim to producing a professional talent.

Paris Horne becomes the first player of his class to sign a professional contract. Horne will always be remembered for non stop hustle on the court. (Icon SMI)
Earlier this afternoon, Red Storm senior associate athletic director for communications and men’s basketball sports information director Mark Fratto officially announced via the team’s Twitter account that shooting guard Paris Horne became the first from last year’s senior class to sign a professional deal. Horne will take his talents to Germany as the newest member of the BG Göttingen squad in the Basketball Bundesliga. Horne is not the only familiar name on the BG Göttingen roster either, as fans of the Big East will also recognize former Villanova swingman Dwayne Anderson. A player somewhat similar to Horne in style and fundamentals, Anderson spent four years on the Main Line with the Wildcats, playing for Jay Wright from 2006-2009; and was on Villanova’s Final Four team in his last season.

“I’m very excited to begin my professional career,” said Horne, a four-year veteran that endeared himself to fans of the Johnnies both for his high-energy offensive game and stingy defensive efforts. “I would like to thank Coach (Steve) Lavin and the St. John’s coaches for teaching me so much in the past year, as well as the former coaches for giving me the chance to play college basketball at the highest level and in the toughest conference.”

Horne came a long way since arriving on the corner of Union and Utopia after his prep year at the Bridgton Academy in Maine. The Delaware-born and Philadelphia-raised guard chose the Johnnies and then-coach Norm Roberts over a number of other suitors that included Ohio University, and became a starter in his sophomore season after Anthony Mason Jr. suffered a season-ending injury just three games into the year. “Air Horne” held his starting spot through his junior campaign, only to lose it at the beginning of his senior season to point guard Dwight Hardy midway through the year.

However, the always-determined Horne played hard enough to get Lavin to reinsert him into the starting five by year’s end during a season in which he added his name to the illustrious list of 1,000-point scorers for the Red Storm, a group that fellow senior D.J. Kennedy also joined last year. Horne also ended his tenure in a Red Storm uniform tied for second in career three-pointers, just three behind the school record. His trey from the corner against Providence on New Year’s night this past season gave the Johnnies their second win in as many Big East games to start the conference season, and helped galvanize the team for their magical month of February in which they ascended to the No. 14 ranking in the Associated Press poll.

St. John’s Headlines New-Look Holiday Festival

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It’s just not a college basketball season unless the Holiday Festival is headlined by the St. John’s Red Storm inside the venerable confines of Madison Square Garden.

Fortunately for college basketball purists and old-school fans, history will once again be repeating itself, as the boys from Queens will take their talents to midtown Manhattan in what will be the second trip to the Garden for the youngest squad in program history. Most of these players will be making their debuts inside the home of the New York Knicks one month prior as part of the culmination of the 2K Sports Classic, an event that will also include Arizona, Mississippi State and Texas A&M.

The Red Storm will once again take part in the Holiday Festival in 2011.
Following a two-day confluence in which Steve Lavin’s NCAA Tournament participants first disposed of Davidson in a hard-fought nonconference matchup, the reigning Holiday Festival champion Red Storm will take the court at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” against Fordham University on December 17th.

Though the roster will feature just one player from 2010-2011, the Red Storm will be looking to erase the memory of a shocking upset loss to the Rams that, ironically, ended up being the turning point of last season’s miraculous run.

Rutgers will face Stony Brook in the second half of the Garden doubleheader on the 17th, but there will be no consolation or championship game the following day. As reported via Twitter yesterday by college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, the Holiday Festival will now be a one-day event, as opposed to the tournament-style affair it had earned its name and reputation as, in the past.

One benefit of this one-day format is that it will give all four schools the opportunity to play a game at Madison Square Garden and avoid the letdown of losing both contests that has been felt by some teams in past Holiday Festival. However, the opportunity for teams to say they played two games inside one of the most recognizable venues in the world has been taken away.

In addition, a traditional Holiday Festival setup could have potentially provided an intriguing matchup between St. John’s and Rutgers before the two teams collided in a Big East matchup in Piscataway. Adding to the fire would be the fact that the Red Storm and Scarlet Knights would be facing each other for the first time since the controversial ending to their Big East tournament meeting last March. As if anyone needed a reminder, in last year’s game, Justin Brownlee appeared to step out of bounds and travel while throwing the ball into the crowd in a sequence that was ignored by the officials and subsequently criticized as a result.

Though the Holiday Festival is no longer a conventional tournament, one thing remains the same: All four programs will still get the opportunity to show their stuff to the Madison Square Garden crowd. Four local schools inside the Mecca of basketball eight days before Christmas; it simply doesn’t get much better than this for big-time college basketball fans.

God’s Gift Achiuwa Chooses to Join St. John’s and Steve Lavin

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When describing the unique situation that St. John’s would be presented with in regard to its 2011-12 roster, head coach Steve Lavin remarked that the Red Storm recruiting effort would be reminiscent of Noah’s Ark in that the coach would need two players at every position. In the fall signing period that ended just after the start of the college basketball season, the Johnnies had received at least a pair of commitments from each position except that of their frontcourt; where 6-10 California product Norvel Pelle remained the lone interior presence to publicize his decision to play his collegiate basketball under Lavin. So it remained, until now.

God's Gift Achiuwa Erie Community College
Gods Gift becomes the 9th member of the 2011 recruiting class for St. John's University. He will announce Thursday at 1:00 PM (ECC)
After a visit to the Queens campus that fittingly came during Holy Week, the aptly named God’s Gift Achiuwa has become the ninth recruit to declare his intent to play on the corner of Union and Utopia.

“I am excited to come to St. John’s and New York City. I really like the coaching staff and the way St. John’s plays. They are a running team and that’s what I like, fast paced basketball,” said Achiuwa. “I also like the winning tradition of the new coaching staff. They came into the St. John’s program and turned things around in less than a year. I think that’s a good indication that the program is on its way back. I like the city and have been to New York a number of times, it is a great place to play and live. Madison Square Garden is the biggest stage in the world and it is a great opportunity to have The Garden as my home court.”

The 6-9 Achiuwa transfers to Queens from Erie Community College in upstate New York after choosing St. John’s over Washington and Cincinnati; and will have two years of eligibility left starting with the upcoming season, giving the Red Storm experience it so desperately needs after losing its ten seniors off last year’s NCAA Tournament team to graduation. Achiuwa joins junior guard Malik Stith and sophomore guard Nurideen Lindsey and forward Dwayne Polee as the lone upperclassmen in Lavin’s second season as the successor to former coach Norm Roberts, now an assistant under Billy Donovan at the University of Florida.

“Gift is a talented frontline player who possesses tremendous size, strength, speed and skill. He is an ideal fit for our baseline-to-baseline attacking style of play,“ said Lavin. “The maturity Gift gained from two years of junior college basketball with a combined 55-6 record will make him a nice complement to what will be the youngest team in the country next season. He is fundamentally sound, and comes from a program with a tradition of winning, where a strong work ethic, playing hard and discipline is demanded on a daily basis.”

Alex Nwora, who coached God’s Gift at Erie Community College, a Division II school, echoed Coach Lavin’s feeling of his star big man: “He’s a good leader who leads by example, the first one in (the gym) and (the) last one out. He’s a good kid, always makes eye contact, and he’s very coachable.” In addition to all of that, God’s Gift, a native of Nigeria, is also more than just an inside presence; as noted by his averages of just over 22 points and under 12 rebounds per game, albeit at the Division II level.

Achiuwa will likely split time with the aforementioned Norvel Pelle at the center position, as well as with fellow newcomer JaKarr Sampson at power forward, enabling Dwayne Polee to slide down to the small forward position at various points during games to give St. John’s a somewhat bigger lineup than most fans are accustomed to when the Johnnies open their 104th season this November.

Hoop Group New York Top 100 Showcases Bright Future

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College basketball is a game of youth, and what better way to find out about the stars of tomorrow than by getting a look at the future?

Fordham University provided that opportunity Tuesday night when it played host to the Hoop Group Top 100 Elite skills camp, showcasing prep stars from across the Northeast for scouts, media, and coaches at the Division II and Division III levels. A total of 125 prospects auditioned for what could very well be their future a few years from now; and while most aren’t at the “can’t miss” prospect level just yet, the majority of these aspiring hoopsters showed off their massive potential for some of the national landscape to see firsthand for themselves. Here’s a brief scouting report on some of the boys that provided some lasting impressions in the Bronx as they continue to chase their dreams:

• Kyle Williams (6-8 Fr., West Islip, NY – St. John The Baptist HS)
Kyle is an athletic young big man that bears a slight physical resemblance to St. John’s rookie Dwayne Polee, but his game is a little more physical inside. Already measuring 6-8 in just his freshman year of high school, Williams demonstrated a Charles Oakley-esque ability to chase rebounds and go after the ball on the defensive side; offsetting his raw offensive game.

• Isaiah Velez (6-3 Jr., Parlin, NJ – Old Bridge HS)
Isaiah’s on-court speed and ability to finish in transition is the most impressive facet of his game. He is a slasher that can attack the basket just as well as he can spot up to shoot from mid-range. In other words, think a poor man’s Jerel McNeal; but less aggressive defensively. Covering the Northeast Conference personally, I can definitely see a player like Velez getting offers from NEC schools in a year’s time if his game improves just a little more.

• David Hardy (6-1 Jr., New York, NY – John F. Kennedy HS)
Same last name and high school as a St. John’s star of the past, but no relation. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any similarities between David Hardy and Dwight Hardy, though. David has a shooter’s touch the same way the Johnny that shares his surname does; but the younger Hardy needs to develop more confidence in his shot when he puts it up. There were many times in which David looked hesitant when under in-game situations, but his determined nature inside is what will endear him to college coaches. A true work in progress that could be a bigger boom than bust for whomever recruits him.

• Chris McCullough (6-9 Fr., Bronx, NY – Salisbury HS)
McCullough was one of the first players that stood out from the moment the camp got underway, blazing through drills and warmups before showing his true potential in competition. A tall and lanky Long Islander that is already rumored to be receiving interest from Connecticut and Pittsburgh, McCullough could be the prototypical Big East power forward/center if he fills out over the next three years. Currently, Chris’ skills are similar to former UConn swingman Stanley Robinson; but he could blossom into a Jeff Adrien/DeJuan Blair type with the proper conditioning.

• Robert Rossiter (6-2 Fr., Staten Island, NY – Xaverian HS)
From the family that gave us oldest brother Steve (former Davidson reserve) and middle child Ryan (the Monsignor Farrell product who went on to dominate at Siena while setting the school rebounding record) comes the latest big man in Richmond County. What you’ll find most impressive about Robert is his ability at such a young age. He plays very much like his brother on both ends of the ball, and even does Ryan one better with his instinctive tendencies to take charge wherever he is on the court. The youngest Rossiter could be ticketed for a mid-major like both of his brothers before him; but being a freshman who will eventually play for legendary Xaverian varsity head man Jack Alesi, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Robert develop into a Luke Harangody-type big man in one of the BCS conferences.

• Jarrel Marshall (6-6 Jr., Mount Vernon, NY – Mount Vernon HS)
Jarrel is the type of player Bob Cimmino has become notorious for churning out at Mount Vernon: A swingman that could play guard and forward with equal proficiency. What Marshall needs to expose further is his outside game, as he didn’t get many chances to prove himself from beyond the arc. Currently, he looks like fellow Cimmino product and Rutgers star Jonathan Mitchell; but needs to develop his three-point shot a little more to really draw comparisons to “J-Mitch,” or even outgoing St. John’s senior D.J. Kennedy.

• Mike White (6-6 Sr., Staten Island, NY – Lincoln HS)
Of course, when one thinks Lincoln, they think PSAL elite the likes of Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair. White is proving that Tiny Morton doesn’t just give the NBA great guards, and the best part about that is that he does it gradually. You won’t see flash and sizzle right away from White, but at the end of the day he’s a grinder that won’t leave anything on the court. If he were more of a scorer, he would be a lock for a Big East or ACC squad; but don’t be surprised to see him at a mid-major the likes of George Mason or Hofstra, where his style fits right in with the nature of play in the CAA.

• Jordan Fuchs (6-6 So., Rockville Centre, NY – Christ The King HS)
Jordan was probably the biggest diamond in the rough last night, and will no doubt add his name to the Who’s Who of Christ The King basketball players. It’s not easy to make a name for yourself when you’ve played alongside household names like Omar Calhoun and Isaiah Lewis, but Jordan showed a little bit of everything when put to the challenge by the Hoop Group staff. The best thing about him is that he’s got two more years in Middle Village. Already measuring 6-6, it wouldn’t be surprising to see coach Joe Arbitello use him as a big man at the varsity level, which is something that will naturally attract Big East coaches to him if he develops the right way. Just remember: Chris Taft (Xaverian/Pitt) and Curtis Sumpter (Bishop Loughlin/Villanova) were both CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens products too, and Jordan has the potential to outshine both.

• Isaiah Whitehead (6-3 Fr., Brooklyn, NY – Lincoln HS)
The last name on the list is another Lincoln product, but one who hasn’t taken full advantage of what he could bring to the table yet. Only a freshman, Isaiah still has the time to turn himself into a PSAL stud. Already playing for Team USA, Whitehead is a point guard from an institution famous for their exports at that position; and his skills that earned him a spot on the national team should improve over time to the point where even if he doesn’t take his talents to the NBA, he’ll at least be a recognizable name in Division I and/or maybe even overseas as well.

Thanks For The Memories

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After a nine-year period marked by transition and restoration, St. John’s finally made its long-awaited return to the grandest stage of them all last night.  However, it didn’t go exactly the way everyone had hoped it would.

Playing with heavy hearts and greater motivation than at any other point during their resurgence under coach Steve Lavin, the Red Storm (21-12) were simply unable to hold off a Gonzaga (25-9) team that shot and rebounded with equal proficiency at the Pepsi Center in Denver; as the Bulldogs used a strong presence both inside and outside to win their tenth consecutive game, defeating the Johnnies in the matchup of the No. 6 (St. John’s) and 11 (Gonzaga) seeds in the Southeast regional by the final of 86-71 and advancing to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.  Gonzaga will next face Brigham Young and Jimmer Fredette after the third-seeded Cougars overcame an early scare to emerge victorious over 14th-seeded Wofford by the final of 74-66.

St. John’s opened the game with a competitive fire that had not been seen since its road win over Villanova three weeks ago, starting out on a 5-0 run by forward Justin Brownlee,  (14 points) one of four Red Storm players in double figures.  However, the Zags shot the ball like it was going out of style in the opening stanza by providing a never-ending stream of buckets midway through the first half.  Every time St. John’s scored in the initial minutes, Gonzaga fired back.  In fact, the lead only changed once; and once Elias Harris (15 points, eight rebounds) drained a trifecta to give the Bulldogs a 15-14 lead less than five minutes into the contest, it was all coach Mark Few‘s team would need on the way to a 12-0 run that made a close game much more decisive as the Red Storm’s attempt to “do it” for injured teammate D.J. Kennedy was thwarted by the team from the Pacific Northwest that redefined the meaning of Cinderella with its magical run to the Elite Eight back in 1999.

Except for the fallen Kennedy, each of the other eight St. John’s seniors logged at least one minute in the box score.  Of the fourth-year players, Dwight Hardy (26 points on 10-of-23 shooting) fared the best, and Paris Horne added 11 of his own.  Freshman Dwayne Polee provided a look to the bright future on the corner of Union and Utopia with his impressive 12-point performance, finishing his freshman campaign strong after a decline in productivity at the beginning of Big East play.  Marquise Carter led Gonzaga with 24 points and six assists, while sharpshooter Steven Gray contributed with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Gonzaga may be moving on, but St. John’s has nothing to be ashamed of after finishing a 33-game run that no one will soon forget.  Hardly anyone expected that the Johnnies would go on a magic carpet ride the way they did over the last five months, and the boys from Queens can walk across the stage when they graduate in May knowing that they captured the hearts of a fan base desperate to embrace a winner after a long and winding four-year road to redemption.  Next year’s incarnation of the Red Storm has a very difficult act to follow, as the nine departing student-athletes have left more lasting impressions around St. John’s basketball than any that can possibly be highlighted within this space.

Lasting Impressions

  • As was initially suspected, rebounding was the key last night.  St. John’s did not have the bodies or physical style to stand up to seven-footer Robert Sacre (nine points, nine rebounds) or Elias Harris, and that lack of size and brute strength was put on full display to the tune of a 43-20 domination of the glass by Gonzaga.
  • The Zags also beat St. John’s at its own game by getting their bench involved.  All but four of the Red Storm’s 71 points came from its starting five, while Gonzaga picked up 16 from their substitutes who helped contribute to a stellar effort from the field, from which the Bulldogs shot 54 percent.
  • Sacre may not have lit up the box score the way some thought he might, but his inside presence undoubtedly contributed to a 34-24 advantage for Gonzaga inside the paint.  The Zags will need more of the same tomorrow against an undersized Brigham Young team in order to advance to the Sweet 16 in New Orleans.
  • Dwayne Polee started and ended his first season in Queens with solid double-figure scoring efforts against two West Coast Conference opponents.  Polee started his tenure under Steve Lavin with a 16-point outburst at St. Mary’s in November; and his 12 against Gonzaga last night included an impressive display that not only earned him the unsung hero game ball, but gave those optimistic to see what the future holds for St. John’s an insight into what should be a focal point of the Red Storm’s offensive attack in 2011-12, especially as the eight incoming recruits adapt to the style of play at the collegiate level.
  • Finally, this season could and would not be possible had it not been for the determined and inspiring play of each of the nine seniors that comprised one of the strongest teams in the Big East.  While some may not have had many shining moments wearing the red and white, each one touched the hearts of the program and its fans in more ways than any of them ever could have imagined; and while all of us may be just a small piece of their lives, this team is a much bigger part of ours than any player or coach will ever know.