Walk-On Tryouts

http://espn.go.com/new-york/story/_/id/7111524/st-john-red-storm-looking-good-men

There were plenty of cringe-inducing moments over the course of the morning -- bricked layups, airballed 3-pointers and the like. But there were also a handful of guys that showed flashes of skill and athleticism -- including 6-foot-5 senior Chuck Anakwenze, a transfer who played for two years at Division II Minnesota State Moorhead before tearing his ACL.

Another promising-looking guard was 6-foot-1 Harlem native Jody Card, who played AAU ball for the New York Gauchos several years ago, but then joined the Army and served his country for four years. Card, 26, just got back from a one-year deployment in Iraq in April, and enrolled as a freshman at St. John's this fall.

With the current St. John's roster featuring only two players 6-foot-8 or above, you couldn't help but pay attention to the couple of big guys getting up and down the floor during the full-court knockout stage. Samuel Scaly-James, a 6-foot-8 freshman from Longwood High School on Long Island, was the tallest player of the bunch. The next-biggest was Jeff Ashamole, measuring 6-foot-7 1/2, a transfer originally from North Brunswick, N.J., who played for one season at Middlesex Community College.

Both of these big guys have to be on the team. There is no choice.

How many other schools could have open tryouts and bring in guys with this pedigree and size?  One of the perks of being at St. John's I guess.

Good to hear there are decent players for the tryouts. At the very least we will need them for practicing and maybe even to steal a few minutes during games. I wonder how many will make the team

Good to hear there are decent players for the tryouts. At the very least we will need them for practicing and maybe even to steal a few minutes during games. I wonder how many will make the team

My guess is 2 of the bigger guys and Card.  Just a guess.  We need some size.  The JC guy seems a lock.  Adding 3, we wouldn't have to jettison anybody if Pelle and Garrett make it on board in December.

I would guess the four who were mentioned specifically in the article.

Someone on twitter congratulated 'sammy' form making the team. I'm assuming it's Samuel Scaly-James.

I don't understand how other BE schools have 5-8 walk ons and we're hoping to add 3? If we add 3, we'd have enough to f'n practice. It's senseless to not load up on walk ons.

I don't understand how other BE schools have 5-8 walk ons and we're hoping to add 3? If we add 3, we'd have enough to f'n practice. It's senseless to not load up on walk ons.

We don't need 8 walk-ons.  That said, you're probably right.  Scaley-James, Card, Anakwenze and Ashamole seem likely.  4 is enough.  Jamal white is really a 5th even though he was given a scholarship this year.

If we take 4 walk ons assuming White is an actual ship player, and 3 guys get hurt, which one of our coaches suits up for practices?

If we take 4 walk ons assuming White is an actual ship player, and 3 guys get hurt, which one of our coaches suits up for practices?

If I had 6 numbers instead of 3 I would have been a millionaire

Quote from: Poison on October 16, 2011, 10:21:35 PM

I don't understand how other BE schools have 5-8 walk ons and we're hoping to add 3? If we add 3, we'd have enough to f'n practice. It's senseless to not load up on walk ons.

We don't need 8 walk-ons.  That said, you're probably right.  Scaley-James, Card, Anakwenze and Ashamole seem likely.  4 is enough.  Jamal white is really a 5th even though he was given a scholarship this year.

Glad to know roster decisions are in such capable hands. First you say 3, cutting the 6'5 kid with D2 experience than you say we don't need 8 than 4 is enough. Quess you will be getting to work on next season schedule soon too huh?

Unless Sam Scaley-James was known as Sam Sealy in high school, I'm not sure the big guy even played before coming to St. John's.

Unless Sam Scaley-James was known as Sam Sealy in high school, I'm not sure the big guy even played before coming to St. John's.

If he's 6'8, he'll make the team, and he'll play because 3 of our recruits dicked around.

Quote from: LJSA on October 17, 2011, 01:30:53 AM

Unless Sam Scaley-James was known as Sam Sealy in high school, I'm not sure the big guy even played before coming to St. John's.

If he's 6'8, he'll make the team, and he'll play because 3 of our recruits dicked around.

Awesome! Your what make me proud to be an STJ fan!

If he's 6'8, he'll make the team, and he'll play because 3 of our recruits dicked around.

Well, before yesterday, he's wasn't on even a D-III roster for a reason, and I'd love to know what it is.

Quote from: Poison on October 17, 2011, 07:55:32 AM

Quote from: LJSA on October 17, 2011, 01:30:53 AM

Unless Sam Scaley-James was known as Sam Sealy in high school, I'm not sure the big guy even played before coming to St. John's.

If he's 6'8, he'll make the team, and he'll play because 3 of our recruits dicked around.

Awesome! Your what make me proud to be an STJ fan!

No, Moose. That's what the metal detectors are for.

Quote from: Moose on October 17, 2011, 08:40:29 AM

Quote from: Poison on October 17, 2011, 07:55:32 AM

Quote from: LJSA on October 17, 2011, 01:30:53 AM

Unless Sam Scaley-James was known as Sam Sealy in high school, I'm not sure the big guy even played before coming to St. John's.

If he's 6'8, he'll make the team, and he'll play because 3 of our recruits dicked around.

Awesome! Your what make me proud to be an STJ fan!

No, Moose. That's what the metal detectors are for.

Well thats another reason too.

Quote from: Poison on October 17, 2011, 07:55:32 AM

If he's 6'8, he'll make the team, and he'll play because 3 of our recruits dicked around.

Well, before yesterday, he's wasn't on even a D-III roster for a reason, and I'd love to know what it is.

Maybe because he isn't AT a D-III school?  He's a legit Saint Johns, tuition paying STUDENT.  By choice.   Some kids prioritize.  Playing D-III ball and getting a degree from Podunk U, or being able to announce for the rest of their lives they're a graduate of Saint Johns University.   And he's willing to make getting that degree a WHOLE lot more difficult by surrendering a tremendous amount of his time to help the team as practice fodder.   But now, just maybe, for the rest of his life he also gets to say I played varsity basketball for Saint Johns.  Heck - if all goes as we all hope, maybe he goes thru life with a 2014 or 2015 RING.

Quote from: LJSA on October 17, 2011, 10:58:44 AM

Quote from: Poison on October 17, 2011, 07:55:32 AM

If he's 6'8, he'll make the team, and he'll play because 3 of our recruits dicked around.

Well, before yesterday, he's wasn't on even a D-III roster for a reason, and I'd love to know what it is.

Maybe because he isn't AT a D-III school?  He's a legit Saint Johns, tuition paying STUDENT.  By choice.   Some kids prioritize.  Playing D-III ball and getting a degree from Podunk U, or being able to announce for the rest of their lives they're a graduate of Saint Johns University.   And he's willing to make getting that degree a WHOLE lot more difficult by surrendering a tremendous amount of his time to help the team as practice fodder.   But now, just maybe, for the rest of his life he also gets to say I played varsity basketball for Saint Johns.  Heck - if all goes as we all hope, maybe he goes thru life with a 2014 or 2015 RING.

Of course that could be true. But it may also be because he didn't get a single offer to play anywhere. I just was wondering what the circumstances were that led him to St. John's.