Tony, I think you're overestimating what's available and how some of these cats got here. Each year the brighter talents in NYC-area get snapped up early, make their commitments. I don't remember how they came on to Larry Wright, but that kid had some talent; and he came in the spring, after the Wiggins thing (and I think St. John's had offered Edgar Sosa but he signed in the fall? Not sure) and after they'd signed Q Calhoun in the fall. But maybe they thought they had more of a chance with the local ballers before branching out to the JUCOs and guys that weren't necessarily going to qualify (Kitchen, Rob Thomas) in the late signing period in a rush attempt to snap up some talent in the recruiting class.
The Burrell/ Boothe year, he got a number of in-state players, found Paris Horne playing with Burrell (I assume). But when two more schollies came open (Patterson + Ricky Torres, a city player), he was looking at scraps. I don't remember who was around then, but Kennedy, at least, was deciding between decent lower-level Big 6/ BCS schools (Georgia, I think was the main competition). Sean Evans was a raw talent they found in that same rush attempt to find talent.
Last year, well you know. Struck out on Mookie and Kevin Jones. Devoe Joseph and his fam thought the situation was unstable and went somewhere else. On the Morris twins. And then on Syl. And then the staff was looking at Krys Faber, Quincy Roberts (who I think they saw during the season as well), and dudes who could fill the roster.
Were there NYC ballers who were as good as what they ended up with and were available? Maybe not; NYC players get exposure, there are a lot of schools in the area (and who recruit the area), many of the players worth a damn have signed by the spring period. Who's out there? Lance. Keith Spellman. Tevin Baskin. James Stukes is uncommitted, I think. Can't think of anyone else.