Isaiah Whitehead - SG - Lincoln HS - Brooklyn, NY - SETON HALL

“@NYPost_Brazille: St. John's Steve Lavin and Minnesota's Richard Pitino and Kimani Young visited Lincoln's Isaiah Whitehead today, he tweeted. #stjbb”

“@NYPost_Brazille: St. John's Steve Lavin and Minnesota's Richard Pitino and Kimani Young visited Lincoln's Isaiah Whitehead today, he tweeted. #stjbb”

So Pitino, Pitino, Lavin and Boeheim.  Sounds like a law firm.

BTW The new rules allowing official visits and in-home visits in your Junior year is having an impact.

Not that it matters, but the tweet says Lavin visited it him at his high school, not home.

Just Got Visits From Steve Lavin From St.Johns & Minnesota's Coach Pitino & Young At My HS 👌🏀 #BLESSED

Lousville and Syracuse are tough to beat and normally I would write this off, but I kinda have a good feeling about this one.  Jordan and Whitehead would go very well together and I think Whitehead knows that.

Not that it matters, but the tweet says Lavin visit it him at his high school, not home.

Just Got Visits From Steve Lavin From St.Johns & Minnesota's Coach Pitino & Young At My HS 👌🏀 #BLESSED

Gotcha. Not sure if it actually does matter.

Jordan and Whitehea

d would go very well together and I think Whitehead knows that.

He did tweet when jordan signed. i am just being a homer. would be sick

As one who follows the recruiting game- ours and others- through the observations of the regulars here who see these kids, I'd like to hear a breakdown of this kid's game and skillset. I know he's been on the radar since eighth grade, he seems to be the real deal, and it's great that we seem to be in it with him despite the involvement of some bigger programs. Love to hear more about his game. Is he a pure shooter, or a volume shooter? Enough handle to run the point if necessary? Athleticism you'd expect from a recruit of this caliber or off the charts, skywalking hops?

Thanks in advance for the info and for keeping the less informed among us somewhat in the loop.

As one who follows the recruiting game- ours and others- through the observations of the regulars here who see these kids, I'd like to hear a breakdown of this kid's game and skillset. I know he's been on the radar since eighth grade, he seems to be the real deal, and it's great that we seem to be in it with him despite the involvement of some bigger programs. Love to hear more about his game. Is he a pure shooter, or a volume shooter? Enough handle to run the point if necessary? Athleticism you'd expect from a recruit of this caliber or off the charts, skywalking hops?

Thanks in advance for the info and for keeping the less informed among us somewhat in the loop.

Some newer video. 

Isaiah Whitehead is NYC's next basketball star - Lincoln High School - Class of 2014

Others might be able to break down his exact skill set, but he seems to have it all.  Lavin and Co. Have been on Whitehead for a long time.  Lavin has said that he only recruits kids that he and he staff think they have a chance to land.  The fact that we haven't backed off him, even after him seemingly pining for Syracuse and he like makes me think they feel we still have a good chance with him.  The signing of Jordan can only help.  IMO, a backcourt of Jordan and Whitehead would likely be one of the best in the country.

Not that rankings are the end-all be-all, but is it widely assumed by people on the recruiting circuit that Isaiah is going to take a big jump up the charts this summer or in his senior year?  Just curious.

Because we're talking about him as a one and done, and I see Scout and ESPN have him as only a mid-40s recruit.  The 8th and 10th best shooting guard on their lists respectively.   

“@Isaiah_W15: All The Rumors About Me Signing To The Cuse Today Is False ✔🏀”

“@Isaiah_W15: All The Rumors About Me Signing To The Cuse Today Is False ✔”

First I heard of that rumor.

Not that it matters, but the tweet says Lavin visited it him at his high school, not home.

Just Got Visits From Steve Lavin From St.Johns & Minnesota's Coach Pitino & Young At My HS 👌🏀 #BLESSED

It was an open work out that they attended.

At this point, aggressively pursuing a guard may not be the best use of the available scholarships or the staff’s time. By May of 2014, Coach Lavin will have at least three open scholarships (Sanchez, GG and Marco), all front court players.  Of course if you know a guard is leaving, then by all means pursue another guard

In order to improve the long term prospect for the program, the staff should focus on signing 'impact players’ aka top 25 rated kids.  Coach Lavin recently signed a potential impact player in Rysheed.  Usually, one impact player does not change the program.  A top player needs other top players to take the program to the next level. Multiple top players facilitates getting more top players.  A top program (Kentucky, Carolina etc.) needs to sign top players year after year. 

St John’s is moving forward. It will take patience and perseverance.  By chasing only top talent, the fan base would have to be willing to accept the risk that occasionally no one is signed.  It is better to hold a scholarship than clog up the bench with players who can't play.  Releasing scholarship players is indicative of a failing program. (Coaches aren't recruiting properly, players aren't developed properly, and players have unrealistic expectations).

As for the summer recruiting, it seems most efficient for the staff to focus on signing forwards like Abu, Delgado and Chandler or any top rated power forwards Kentucky hasn't yet signed.   The 2014-15 program can offer minutes to forwards and centers.  Given the number of guards on the 2014-15 roster, getting an additional guard to commit should take more effort than getting a forward to commit.  If a ‘difference maker’ like Mudiay is willing to commit, you take him and figure out how to use him. 

If the 2013-14 Team meets expectations with a top 25 ranking and a couple wins in the NCAA tournament, the school’s profile and ability to sign better 2015 players should be improved.  Moving an unused 2014 scholarship into the class of 2015 is almost a blessing as the Team’s improved profile should therefore make it easier to sign higher rated talent.  Moving a scholarship to 2015 would perpetuate the scholarship imbalance by increasing the available scholarships from 4 to 5.  While the roster would remain unbalanced, Coach Lavin has demonstrated the ability to manage it.

At this point, aggressively pursuing a guard may not be the best use of the available scholarships or the staff’s time. By May of 2014, Coach Lavin will have at least three open scholarships (Sanchez, GG and Marco), all front court players.  Of course if you know a guard is leaving, then by all means pursue another guard

In order to improve the long term prospect for the program, the staff should focus on signing 'impact players’ aka top 25 rated kids.  Coach Lavin recently signed a potential impact player in Rysheed.  Usually, one impact player does not change the program.  A top player needs other top players to take the program to the next level. Multiple top players facilitates getting more top players.  A top program (Kentucky, Carolina etc.) needs to sign top players year after year. 

St John’s is moving forward. It will take patience and perseverance.  By chasing only top talent, the fan base would have to be willing to accept the risk that occasionally no one is signed.  It is better to hold a scholarship than clog up the bench with players who can't play.  Releasing scholarship players is indicative of a failing program. (Coaches aren't recruiting properly, players aren't developed properly, and players have unrealistic expectations).

As for the summer recruiting, it seems most efficient for the staff to focus on signing forwards like Abu, Delgado and Chandler or any top rated power forwards Kentucky hasn't yet signed.   The 2014-15 program can offer minutes to forwards and centers.  Given the number of guards on the 2014-15 roster, getting an additional guard to commit should take more effort than getting a forward to commit.  If a ‘difference maker’ like Mudiay is willing to commit, you take him and figure out how to use him. 

If the 2013-14 Team meets expectations with a top 25 ranking and a couple wins in the NCAA tournament, the school’s profile and ability to sign better 2015 players should be improved.  Moving an unused 2014 scholarship into the class of 2015 is almost a blessing as the Team’s improved profile should therefore make it easier to sign higher rated talent.  Moving a scholarship to 2015 would perpetuate the scholarship imbalance by increasing the available scholarships from 4 to 5.  While the roster would remain unbalanced, Coach Lavin has demonstrated the ability to manage it.

Take the best players...period.  There will be at least three open ships, Whitehead is a no-brainer.

Marillac is right.  Whitehead is one of the best in the class.  We will have enough ships for forwards as well.  Not mutually exclusive.

Both of you have a point. I would take Whitehead in a heartbeat.  However,we really need bigs. IMO Laven made a mistake signing so many sfs and no true PG his first year. The roster must be balanced w no weak positions.No doubt about it Lavin has to target bigs also. If Harrison is sr. and Whitehead is a fr. who starts at sg? We could play a 3 g lineup.

“@AdamZagoria: Lavin, Pitino Watch Isaiah Whitehead http://zagsblog.com/articles/lavin-pitino-watch-isaiah-whitehead/ @Isaiah_W15”

I cry for bigs practically everyday, and I've seen us mentioned with very few.   But two things comfort me
1) MCN is right when he points out recruiting a sg doesn't prevent us from also pursuing power forwards/centers.   There will be multiple scholarships open.
2) I believe coach has plan.  Either there are big men he's after that we just haven't heard about (Europeans?)  Or, he's convinced that a smaller, more athletic team can win.   Either way, he has reasons for what he's doing.  He didn't just role out of bed and say "gee I think I'll play next season without a center."

I cry for bigs practically everyday, and I've seen us mentioned with very few.   But two things comfort me
1) MCN is right when he points out recruiting a sg doesn't prevent us from also pursuing power forwards/centers.   There will be multiple scholarships open.
2) I believe coach has plan.  Either there are big men he's after that we just haven't heard about (Europeans?)  Or, he's convinced that a smaller, more athletic team can win.   Either way, he has reasons for what he's doing.  He didn't just role out of bed and say "gee I think I'll play next season without a center."

I'd rather a 6'5"-6'6" athletic, skilled player than a 6'10" stiff. Coach is going to get the best players he can. If that player comes in a 6'10" frame he'll take em', if not, then so be it. College basketball is a guard driven league.

"St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin and Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino visited with Lincoln star junior Isaiah Whitehead on Wednesday. The Johnnies, Syracuse and Louisville are recruiting the 6-foot-4 standout the hardest, his mother Ericka Rambert said."


Read more: RECRUITING CONFIDENTIAL: Inside Fordham's chase of NYC star Jon Severe - NYPOST.com http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/collegesports/recruiting_confidential_inside_fordham_FtC8007fW0NHGTbqBee1ZP#ixzz2RcJuUFbC