Over the Airwaves

Justin Brownlee Fractures Thumb

February 1, 2011 by Timmy Dimas Leave a Comment

Senior forward Justin Brownlee has suffered a left thumb fracture during some point in the second half of the Duke game this past Sunday. It may have been at around the 12 minute mark when he ran into Blue Devil guard, Nolan Smith.

X-rays, taken on Monday, revealed a non-displaced hairline fracture in the distal phalange of Brownlee’s left thumb. He was fitted for a fiberglass splinter by specialist Michelle Carlson, M.D., of the Hospital for Special Surgery, which will allow him to play and not miss anytime. Lavin said it was all speculation and he would need to see Justin play today in practice before he could determine his status for tomorrow nights game verse Tri-State rival, Rutgers University.

Brownlee is averaging 13.6 points per game while shooting 51% from the field. In 20 games he has scored 15+ points in 10 of those games. Brownlee has earned two MVP awards this season winning hardware from the Great Alaskan Shootout and Holiday Festival.

For the official press release please visit Redstormsports.com

Showdown in the Capital

January 25, 2011 by Daniel Martin Leave a Comment

The chatter has to be getting louder, right? As ESPN’s Jay Bilas said during Monday night’s broadcast of the Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh game, “Because conferences like the Pac-10 and SEC are down this year, there is a real possibility that the Big East will become the first conference ever to send double digit teams to the tournament.”

Though, at this point, it is nearly complete speculation, multiple outlets project St. John’s either in the NCAA Tournament or on the bubble. So, as the Johnnies head to Washington DC to play their 7^th straight game against a ranked opponent in #21 Georgetown (14-5, 3-4), the question presents itself, are tournament projections and post-season dreams beginning to slip into the back of their minds?

“You know, I’ve got roommates, I’ve got friends. Everybody’s watching and telling us about it, so I know I’m going to hear it no matter what,” said senior forward Justin Burrell. “I’m really trying to focus on what we can do and what we have control over.”

Dwight Hardy led the Red Storm with 20 points in their January 3rd victory over Georgetown (AP)

This is the new reality in which the St. John’s Red Storm find themselves. For the first time since 2002, the NCAA Tournament is within sight, but a tough remaining Big East schedule stands in the way of this team and what Coach Steve Lavin has dubbed “The Promised Land”.

When the Johnnies take the floor at the Verizon Center Wednesday, they will have a chance to sweep the season series with the Hoyas and add to an already-impressive Big East resume that includes two big wins on the road, and another two victories over then-Top 15 opponents.

In the first meeting between these two teams this season on January 3rd, the Red Storm prevailed at Madison Square Garden 61-58 behind 20 points from senior point guard Dwight Hardy. At that point, St. John’s was thrust into the national spotlight, sitting atop the Big East with a 3-0 conference record and being talked about as a legitimate threat to the powers that be.

Some things have changed since early January.

While still maintaining a Top 25 ranking, the Hoyas lost to both West Virginia and Pittsburgh at home to fall to 1-4 to begin the Big East season. But, they have rebounded to win two games against Rutgers and Seton Hall to pull to 3-4 in conference and 14-5 overall.

“What they do is pretty consistent,” said Coach Steve Lavin of Georgetown’s style-of-play. “The key defensively is containing the ‘Big 3’: Freeman, Wright, and Clark.”

Moving away from the prototypical Hoya gameplan that, in the past, had run through skilled big men like Ewing, Mourning, Hibbert, and Monroe, this team thrives or struggles on the play of these “Big 3”. Collectively, they account for 58% of the total scoring offense for Georgetown and, almost like Christmas lights, when one goes out, the whole team seems to go out.

In that game on January 3^rd, senior point guard Chris Wright scored just 7 points, including shooting 1/7 from 3-pt range. Subsequently, preseason Big East Player of the Year Austin Freeman had 6 points, going 2/10 from the field and Jason Clark had 7 points.

Much of the success defensively was credit to the St. John’s match-up zone, which closed out on shooters quickly and forced Georgetown to end up 4/17 from distance. The place where they need to tighten up, though, is on the boards. Against a team that is 235^th in the nation in rebounds per game, the Red Storm were outrebounded 31-20. “They have been able to counteract the lack of big man by collectively hitting the boards,” said Lavin. This means, especially in the zone defense, forwards Justin Brownlee, Justin Burrell, and Dwayne Polee II are going to need to find a man and box him out, because too many solid defensives possessions have been wasted this year for lack of a defensive rebound to close it out.

The Red Storm (11-7, 4-4) come into this game off a tough 2 point loss to Cincinnati at Carnesecca Arena on Saturday. Going 12/26 from the free throw line, including a rare miss on the front end of a one-and-one by Dwight Hardy as the game wound down, the game came down to variables that were very much within their control, but there was a lack of execution.

“When we lose games, it’s because we’re lackadaisical,” said Burrell. “We shot ourselves in the foot with the free throw situation.”

When St. John’s comes out with energy, confidence, and defensive pressure (see: at WVU, vs. G’Town, vs. Notre Dame), they are a very different team than when they come out flat and lacking aggression (see: at Louisville, at Notre Dame). Coming off two straight losses and with games against #3 Duke and #5 UConn looming on the horizon, this road game against a team the Johnnies have already beaten becomes even more important. “From Day 1, every game is crucial,” said sophomore guard Malik Stith. “This game is a must win for us after losing tw0 straight.”

For Steve Lavin’s squad to leave Our Nation’s Capital with a win, a few things will have to come together. Firstly, the defense will once again have to limit Freeman, Wright, and Clark because the Hoyas put up nearly 76 points per game and, as mentioned before, these three guys are the reason. Secondly, St. John’s will have to win the battle on the boards. Second chance opportunities for a Top 25 team usually spell trouble. And, finally, the Johnnies must make every possession count. This means limit turnovers, use the clock, and make Georgetown play a low-scoring game, much like at the Garden earlier this year. If they can make it a “First to 60 Points Wins”-type game, that is their best chance to come out with the victory.

“I expect them to come out and be aggressive and attack,” said Burrell in closing. “But we’re seniors, we understand what it takes to win the game.”

Polee’s Progress: Halfway Point

January 25, 2011 by Daniel Martin 1 Comment

Coming into the 2010-2011 season, two major storylines surfaced for this St. John’s team. The first, most prominently, was that of this senior-heavy class, trying to make one final push into the NCAA tournament in, this, their final season. The other, one that was somewhat of a wildcard, though still tied to the ultimate success of this senior class, could be found in the lanky, 6’7” frame of freshman Dwayne Polee II.

Even before he stepped on the court for the Red Storm, expectations were high. Committing just weeks after Steve Lavin was named head coach, Polee II was one of the most coveted unsigned players in the Spring signing period, ultimately turning down offers from Oregon and Georgia to join the Red Storm. Because of the quick series of events that landed Polee II in Queens, fans knew little more about him than the video of the high-flyer they had seen in online mixtapes or heard about through blog chatter.

Now, at the midpoint of his first year in Queens, the Los Angeles native has had his ups (16 pts in his college debut vs. St. Mary’s) and his downs (0 pts on 0/3 shooting in just 7 minutes vs. St. Bonaventure). He has certainly shown flashes of brilliance, his first game against St. Mary’s being his most well-rounded game, getting into the passing lanes on defense, shooting from distance, and topping it off with a sensational dunk in transition that gave fans a taste of what the future holds. But, at other times, he has seemed out of rhythm, as during his 2/7 shooting night in only 8 minutes vs. Wagner. Overall, he has put up solid numbers for a contributing freshman, averaging 6.0 points a 3.0 rebounds per game.

Dwayne Polee II has established himself as the most exciting dunker on the Red Storm.

“Like every freshman, at times he’ll hit a wall and regress before he breaks through and makes progress,” said Lavin of Polee II. “He’s right on track, as far as we’re concerned.”

In addition to the work of the Red Storm coach staff, his development at the college level has had much to do with this group of 10 seniors who surround him. In what has become a mutually beneficial relationship, Polee II becomes another helpful piece as these seniors pursue their first NCAA Tournament, while, at the same time, the mature, seasoned upperclassmen have helped Polee II along with aspects of the game that he cannot overcome with his pure talent alone.

“The team has really embraced him,” said Lavin. “You’ll see that in very subtle ways. Whether it’s guys pulling him aside when they huddle at the free throw line, or down under the basket, they’re like coaches out there on the floor.”

If there is one undeniable positive that Polee II has brought to the floor this season, it has been his athleticism. At any one point during the game, chances are he will be the single most athletic player on the floor. With how effortlessly he gets off the floor, Lavin has affectionately referred to him with nicknames like “Bambi” and “Stretch Armstrong”.

But, through different stages in the season, there have been times on both ends of the floor where Polee II has and has not harnessed this natural athleticism.

Offensively, he has developed an effective jumper from 8-10 feet out, usually dribbling across the lane to a jump-stop and knocking it down with relative consistency. On the fast break, where most expected him to flourish, he most certainly has. He has become such an electrifying force in transition, fans have begun to hope for long rebounds on the defensive end, in expectation of a Polee II thrown down in the open floor.

The place where he must continue to improve, though, is ballhandling, especially when in traffic. In the half-court, Polee II has yet to show the consistent ability to take his man off the dribble and attack the rim, or create for others on the floor. Though that responsibility has fallen mainly on the shoulders of senior guard Dwight Hardy, having a long, 6’7” wingman with the ability to stretch the defense off the bounce would add another facet to the Johnnies’ offense. Because of his lack of a completely well-rounded game, he fell into a slump early in the season, settling for jump shots that seemed forced at times.

On the defensive end of the floor is where Polee II has been strong throughout the year.

With his length and jumping ability, he has been an effective piece of Coach Lavin’s match-up zone. Closing out on shooters and rolling to the ball to block shots, Polee II has shown an instinctive nose for getting in passing lanes and putting pressure on his man.

As has been the criticism of Polee II since coming to St. John’s, he needs to add bulk to his lanky frame, which will come with time. His underdeveloped strength is most apparent when he plays man defense on the block or needs to box-out a larger rebounder. Fortunately for him, his superior athleticism allows him to out-jump a lot of bigger post-forward types. This season, it has mostly been a matter of if he is in position.

“With Dwayne, we sometimes use the old Woody Allen adage,” said Lavin. “’Half the battle is showing up.’ If he gets in position to rebound, a lot more are going to fall his way.”

Moving into the second half of the 2010-2011 season, expect Polee II’s role to stay relatively the same. Even during his shooting slump, he has done a good job of not trying to do too much, avoiding bringing the rest of the team down with him. As he becomes more comfortable with the style and pace of Big East basketball, this year and in the rest of his career at St. John’s, he’ll find ways he can more readily contribute and carve out a role that both he and the team benefit from. The game will slow down for him, decision-making will become more fluid, and he’ll be able to make more plays on his own.

“At this point, I’m just trying to be more aggressive and work on my game,” said Polee II.

This is a fortunate time for a young player in a rising program, though. With so many seniors on the roster this season, Polee II is learning what he’ll need to be one of only two returning players next season. Senior leaders like guard Dwight Hardy have left him with lessons he can carry forward.

“I told him, don’t put your head down. If you do that, you can’t focus on the next play,” said Hardy. “He’s a great player and a great kid.”

It’s Greene’r On This Side

January 19, 2011 by Timmy Dimas Leave a Comment

If upsetting Notre Dame wasn’t already great news for St. Johns fans, hearing that another recruit had committed to Coach Lavin and his staff definitely was. Six months in and eight recruits later we have a ninth. From the windy city of Chicago, Illinois to the currently slushy streets of Manhattan, New York City, Phillip Greene of IMG Academy (FL) has verbally committed to The Red Storm.

Player Development coach at IMG and also a native of Chicago like Phil, Loren Jackson said in early November that Greene would not commit until the second period of signing was in play. Greene, who is averaging 23.4 points per game for IMG, is another combo guard who has a great ability to run the court as well as create shots for him self. Has a terrific mid-range jump shot and his quickness along with length allows him to be a problem for guards he is defending.

On verbally committing to St. Johns, Greene had this to say to Adam Zagoria during The Big East Report, “It was fun going up there, seeing them play well against Notre Dame,” he said. “They got the win. They play my style of play; they play up-and-down. They’re really going to let you get after it. Coach Lavin is a really good coach and I got a real good feel for them when I was up there.”

Greene will join a backcourt that includes current sophomore, Malik Stith, Junior College transfer Nurideen Lindsey and Texas native, D’Angelo Harrison.

Greene’s name has swirled around St. Johns for the past couple months. A week prior to signing, a close source to me told me Phil Greene would commit after the Syracuse game but due to weather conditions he could not make his way over so instead he came to the Notre Dame game, which was also attended by already committed Sir’Dominic Pointer, and shortly after the game announced he would attend St. Johns in the fall.

Like all the recruits so far signed, Greene brings that certain aspect that Lavin loves; versatility. He can bring the ball up like any point guard but can easy move over to the shooting guard spot and put points up for you. Lavin loves versital players and Phil Grenne is just another added bonus to an already elite club.

IMG coach Andy Borman says St. John’s is “getting a kid that can do a lot of different things offensively and defensively.” I’m sure Lavin loves the sound of that.

The Elusive Eighth: Dwight Meikle

January 13, 2011 by Daniel Martin Leave a Comment

During a stretch of time in the middle of October, into November, 2010, it seemed news broke nearly every week, announcing another top recruit was headed to Queens, New York to play for Coach Steve Lavin and what some have dubbed the “reborn” St. John’s Red Storm. By the end of the early signing period, eight players had signed their names on the dotted line, including six ESPN Top 100 recruits and a highly-regarded Junior College guard. There was, though, one name, the elusive eighth, with which few were familiar, that of Quality Education Academy’s (N.C.) Dwight Meikle.

Meikle's athleticism in the post will make him a match-up problem next year in the Big East.

Meikle, a 6’9”, 185 lb. forward who is averaging nearly 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in his senior year at Quality Ed., was an unfamiliar name to many fans when he signed his National Letter of Intent on November 16^th. But, the Rockville Centre, New York native won’t let his underpublicized stock affect his approach to the game when he steps on the big stage next season. “I like being ‘under-the-radar,” said Meikle. “It’s like you’ve never seen me before, and I can show you what I can do.”

Being the second recruit in the Class of 2011 with New York-area ties (the other being former Forest Hills (Queens) forward Maurice Harkless), Meikle’s signing is furthering Steve Lavin’s commitment to, as the first year head coach put it, “be able to recruit in our own backyard.”

Hailing from the metro area, Meikle moved to Baltimore in the 6^th grade, where he stayed until moving on to Decatur, Georgia in time for his junior year of high school. Playing one season at Southwest Academy, he transferred to Quality Education Academy for his senior year. “I was slipping in my grades and I wanted to get away so I could focus,” said Meikle. “And, also, I got a lot more visibility for basketball.”

It is this visibility and the promise of playing against top competition every game that has made Dwight Meikle’s time at Quality Education essential in his growth as a basketball player; a player who is now headed to play high-major college basketball.

The recruitment of Meikle and the story of his journey that lands him in Queens is a bit of an unconventional one.

Recruited by schools that include Charlotte, Wichita State, and Seton Hall, among others, Meikle was not on the Johnnies’ radar until the staff noticed his talents while recruiting fellow Quality Education forward and now fellow St. John’s signee, Sir’Dom Pointer. Meikle was originally going to commit to St. John’s without visiting the campus, citing how highly Pointer, who also happens to be Meikle’s roommate, had spoken about the staff, the program, and the prospect of playing on the same court in college.

But, Coach Lavin convinced him to come take a look at New York before committing. “Coach Lavin is easy to talk to and the coaching staff was like a family,” Meikle said of his recruitment. “They took me to Manhattan and to see the Garden. That was a great experience.”

Here, Meikle echoes a sentiment that has been heard from other recruits when they speak about the job Steve Lavin did in luring them to Queens. There is an emerging difference in the perception of St. John’s, not only in New York, but across the country. As Nate Blue, a close advisor to Maurice Harkless, said, “When we’ve sat down with Lavin, he was calm and had a plan. [He] appeals to kids from New York City to California. It’s national.”

On the court, at 6’9” tall, Meikle creates matchup problems at either of the two forward positions. Because of his size, he is longer and taller than most small forwards and, because of his athleticism, when moved down to power forward, he can face up and attack the rim. ESPN Senior Recruiting Analyst Dave Telep said of Meikle, “He’s in between positions in terms of being a power forward or three man. I liked his rebounding instincts and thought he was excellent off the catch and shoot.”

“I really don’t get caught up in that. That’s the politics of basketball. I just go out and play.” Dwight Meikle

When looking at the physical build of Dwight Meikle, it is clear to see that he is consistent with the theme that has run throughout Lavin’s 2011 recruiting class: lengthy and athletic wing players who can play stingy defense and run the floor. Joining fellow signees JaKarr Sampson (6’8”), Norvel Pelle (6’9”), Amir Garrett (6’6”), and the aforementioned Harkless (6’8”), and Pointer (6’6”), Meikle will add depth to a front court that looks like it will be very effective in Lavin’s system of full court, fast pace, fast break, and pressure basketball.

Aside from his readily-apparent shot-blocking ability and solid rebounding fundamentals, Meikle’s versatility is likely his most compelling skill. “I’m able to run the floor or play a slow game,” he said. “I like to face up and play mid-range, or have my back to the basket.” His ability to both get down on the block to score as well as knock down jumpers from the outside will make him an interesting match-up for defenses in the Big East next season, as his future coach explains:

“[Dwight] is a long, highly-skilled athlete who really shoots it well for his size,” said Lavin. “His versatility and ability to play the power and small forward positions make him a great fit for the future of our program, in terms of our game-planning.”

But, for all that he brings to the basketball court, there is another side to Dwight Meikle. “I just like to have fun, doesn’t matter where you go. We could go to the mall, walk around, go to the movies, just hang around the house,” Meikle mused when asked about life off the court. “If you’re hanging with me, we’re gonna have a good time.”

Meikle, also a music enthusiast, has an iPod that features artists that highlight northern rap influences where he was born (Jay-Z and Kanye West), as well as the South, where he has spent the last several years of his life (Lil’ Boosie and St. John’s alum J. Cole). “When I went to visit, they told me J. Cole had graduated from there. I didn’t know that; I thought that was pretty cool,” said Meikle.

When the time comes and Dwight Meikle arrives on St. John’s campus to begin his career as a student-athlete, things will come full-circle for him. Born in the metro area, doing much of his maturing and growing up in the South, he will be returning to the city to play in front of many proud friends and family. But, how long will the “under-the-radar” label stick? To Dwight Meikle, it really doesn’t seem to matter. When asked, he answers in words and a tone that speak to his maturity: “I really don’t get caught up in that. That’s the politics of basketball. I just go out and play.”

Update: Meikle was released from his National Letter of Intent April 20th, 2011. Read more here.

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