I'm just assuming Temple and if he pops for us fantastic. If it is between us and Temple gotta think he knows there are more NBA connections right now in the league with St John's ties. Lavin has sent numerous players to the league, Rico has pro players on campus almost daily over the summer, Ron Ron, Moe and Dunlap, Darrick was involved in front office and played in league, Mullin was a GM and I'm sure still has contacts and Mark Jackson is doing well out in Golden State ( I know he doesn't bleed St J's) but looking at that i gotta say that is way more than Temple's connections. UCLA on the other hand is a different story.
Don't forget CURRENT Golden State GM was one of Steve Lavin's players, and the Clippers Director of Basketball Operations (and former Hornets VP of Player Personnell) is a former Lavin player AND Assistant Coach.
With Howland gone - if it's the NBA on his mind, and the success his new coach has in getting players to that level, St. John's is a slam Dunk. Fran Dunphy as sent 4 players to the NBA in 23 years as a D-1 Head Coach. New UCLA coach Steve Alford has sent 6 in 18 years of D-1 coaching - only ONE of which ever played 50 games in their NBA career. Then there's Lavin with his his 16 to the league in 10 years as a D-1 coach - 9 of whom played over 250 games in their careers - 6 over 500, and 2 over 800.
If NBA future is a criteria, SJU should be a no brainer. But (isn't there always) Jamal Branch also expects Steve to get HIM to the league. And probably Phil Green thinks that too. But hopefully Steve is telling him about his 1998 team - which had UCLA's #5 all time Assist guy Toby Bailey, UCLA's #4 all time Assist Guy Earl Watson, and perhaps UCLA's BEST PG ever Baron Davis ALL starting in the same 3-guard lineup.