Source: St. John’s Now In the Mix for Amile Jefferson

A source tells JohnnyJungle.com that St. John’s is now in the mix for highly-rated Philadelphia forward Amile Jefferson.

Jefferson, at 6’7”, 180 pounds, is an impressively versatile prospect, ranked 26th overall in the Class of 2012 by ESPN.

According to the source, connections with incoming JUCO point guard Nurideen Lindsey and Red Storm target Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony’s (NJ) have made the Red Storm a possible destination for Jefferson.

The Philadelphia-born Lindsey is a close friend of the Jefferson family through the close-knit basketball network in the city. Jefferson’s Friend’s Central (PA) is less than two miles away from Lindsey’s alma mater, Overbrook (PA).

Kyle Anderson, who has developed a friendship with Jefferson through AAU competition, is a Top 10 prospect in the Class of 2012. St. John’s has made his final list of five schools, along with Seton Hall, Georgetown, Florida, and UCLA. He will announce his decision on his 18th birthday, September 20th.

Jefferson fits the mold of players Steve Lavin has recruited thus far in his tenure at St. John’s: a long, lanky combo forward who can play in the mid-range or in the post. What makes his skill set even more dangerous is his basketball intelligence, knowing when to work a defender on the perimeter, when to work in the paint, and when to take him to the basket, off the dribble.

Defensively, he could be another lengthy, agile piece of a full-court press at either the small forward or power forward position.

If the Red Storm were able to land both Anderson and Jefferson, they would be bringing in two of the most unique players in the country at their respective positions.

A number of Big East schools have been in the hunt for Jefferson, including Villanova, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, West Virginia, and Georgetown, along with out-of-conference schools including Wake Forest, Temple, and NC State.