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.