Ricardo Gathers - PF - Riverside Academy - Reserve, LA - BAYLOR

Steve Lavin watched Ricardo Gathers.

http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/1088598.html

At this point, we have to be relentless.

At this point, we have to be relentless.

I think this qualifies:

@5starbasketball
Five Star Basketball Steve Lavin and his staff front and center for Ricardo Gaithers (Brandon Bass Elite) vs. CT Select #Fab48
3 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

http://twitter.com/#!/5starbasketball/status/94903677130768384

Per Dave Telep....

Ricardo Gathers is a monster and he gets fouled a lot. He's a sub 50 percent ft shooter so that's a must improve.

http://twitter.com/#!/DaveTelep/status/95236706139242496

Per ESPN Recruiting....  Gathers was considered one of the "standout players" in Vegas.

Ricardo Gathers (LaPlace, La./Riverside Academy)
2012, PF, 6-7, 240 pounds
He brings the noise in the paint. When Gathers is anywhere close to the rim he's a collision waiting to happen. He prefers to catch it, rip and assault the rim. He was in beast-mode on Sunday, but the major issue he has right now is his free throw shooting. Gathers is a volume free throw shooter because of his style, however, he shoots about 50 percent and leaves easy points at the charity stripe.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/basketball/mens/story/_/id/6799527/marcus-smart-stands-adidas-super-64

Committed to STJ per Paul Biancardi of ESPN.

Just saw that also.....awesome, i believe this will also help in the recuriting of kyle showing that we're serious title contenders in 2012-2013.

YESSSSSS! Welcome Ricardo.

Oh, yes!!  I left the Peach Jam feeling he was ours to lose.  Let's get the ball rolling on the 2012 class....  Is Anderson next on deck? 

great stuff.

Yesss this just gets better and better.... NYC will be the Mecca again sooner than anyone could have ever dreamed.

WELCOME HAMMER!

Coach your spoiling us with talent. Welcome aboard Ricardo!

AWESOME !!! Welcome to SJU !!!

SWEEEEET!!  Add Mr. Basketball Louisiana to Lavin's commits.  Ricardo the "Bayou Bull" Gathers on board for 2102... Fantastic!

BTW an official commit from a big time recruit before sept 20th like this certainly cant hurt with Kyle.

BTW an official commit from a big time recruit before sept 20th like this certainly cant hurt with Kyle.

I was thinking the same thing, maher.  It may certainly enhance our chances with Kyle.

SWEEEEET!!  Add Mr. Basketball Louisiana to Lavin's commits.  Ricardo the "Bayou Bull" Gathers on board for 2102... Fantastic!

I like that "The Bayou Bull" that can stick

If I can't post this entire article form Espn feel free to modify it


Ricardo Gathers, the No. 43 overall player in the ESPNU 100, committed to coach Steve Lavin and St. John's over LSU, Syracuse, Texas and Arizona on Saturday.

"I picked St. John's because of the coaching staff and I liked the way Coach Lavin communicated with me throughout the process," said The Laplace (La.) Riverside power forward. "A year ago he was recruiting me and I didn't think much of it, until I saw how they played on television and how much success they were having.

"I can't wait to play in New York. Watching the movie 'He Got Game' got me really excited about playing there."

The 6-foot-7, 240-pounder will be a perfect fit in the rugged Big East. He is a tremendous rebounder who can clear out space for himself to score on drop-off passes or put-backs. Gathers has also become adept at posting up with his back to the basket, welcomes contact and has shown the explosiveness to dunk on opponents.

While he is happy to be on a team that traps, presses and will allow him to score in the paint, his biggest asset will be his rebounding. Gathers is one of the very best in the nation -- and he led the entire Nike EYBL in rebounding throughout the regular season -- and has the potential to be a double-double machine for the Red Storm.

"That's what I have been doing since I started playing," he said. "It's my specialty."

He is a master of leaping out of his area to snatch a rebound from his opponent or track down a loose ball and, once his vice-like hands are on it, it's over.

Gathers is Lavin's first commit in the 2012 class, but St. John's is also in pursuit of SF Kyle Anderson (Fairview, N.J./St. Anthony), PF Amile Jefferson (Philadelphia/Friends Central) and SG Darrick Wood (Washington D.C./Nia Prep).

Paul Biancardi, who has been a head coach and assistant on NCAA tournament teams, is the national director of basketball recruiting. He is also one the voters for the McDonald's All-American Game and Gatorade Player of the Year. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter.

Quote from: MCNPA on July 30, 2011, 05:44:30 PM

SWEEEEET!!  Add Mr. Basketball Louisiana to Lavin's commits.  Ricardo the "Bayou Bull" Gathers on board for 2102... Fantastic!

I like that "The Bayou Bull" that can stick

Being honest, I think I read he was called that in one article about him.