Phil Wait - C - Proctor Academy - Andover, NH - ST. JOHN'S

sounds like vlade divac.

main page updated with news break....www.johnnyjungle.com

Well we needed size an we got it.  Hopefully this kid is legit.  We really need another big to take some pressure off JB.  Another good thing about this signing is hopefully we wont have to see Tomas jogging up and down the court not even looking at the ball this upcoming season.

Norm will always find time for Tomas.
Since he's European, Wait can probably shoot.
Even with Norm's eye, there's no way STJ can wind up with two European dudes that can't shoot.
If he's already looking at pro leagues, he must have some talent.
Congratulations to Norm and his assistants.

Quote from: kjd01067 on June 03, 2008, 07:55:57 PM

Well we needed size an we got it.  Hopefully this kid is legit.  We really need another big to take some pressure off JB.  Another good thing about this signing is hopefully we wont have to see Tomas jogging up and down the court not even looking at the ball this upcoming season.

Norm will always find time for Tomas.
Since he's European, Wait can probably shoot.
Even with Norm's eye, there's no way STJ can wind up with two European dudes that can't shoot.
If he's already looking at pro leagues, he must have some talent.
Congratulations to Norm and his assistants.

you can't teach 7'1. maybe tomas returns to europe.

Not to rain on this parade, but there is a possibility that he opts to play professionally in Europe.

http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/collegesports/2008/04/ucla-eyes-british-7footer.html

"Gregor Makechnie said Wait has received interest from UCLA, Arizona State, Kentucky and Nebraska among others, but he also might opt to play professionally in Europe instead."

Not to rain on this parade, but there is a possibility that he opts to play professionally in Europe.

http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/collegesports/2008/04/ucla-eyes-british-7footer.html

"Gregor Makechnie said Wait has received interest from UCLA, Arizona State, Kentucky and Nebraska among others, but he also might opt to play professionally in Europe instead."

I think playing professionally was an option prior to and as opposed to signing a letter of national intent.

"Big Man Finishes Up Campus Trip And Decides"

By Mike Sullivan

Posted Jun 4, 2008 

http://hsnewyork.scout.com/2/759579.html

St. John's received an answer today on Wait, who gave Roberts a commitment. According to sources, Wait played at a basketball academy in the Canary Islands. He shed about 40 pounds to get down to 240. Sources say he is much improved from his days at Proctor and runs the floor much better.

Sources indicate that Wait will see some rotational time this upcoming season while become more of an impact player by the time he is a sophomore.
 

"Big Man Finishes Up Campus Trip And Decides"

By Mike Sullivan

Posted Jun 4, 2008 

http://hsnewyork.scout.com/2/759579.html

St. John's received an answer today on Wait, who gave Roberts a commitment. According to sources, Wait played at a basketball academy in the Canary Islands. He shed about 40 pounds to get down to 240. Sources say he is much improved from his days at Proctor and runs the floor much better.

Sources indicate that Wait will see some rotational time this upcoming season while become more of an impact player by the time he is a sophomore.
 

Thanks for the update oldred, seems like a good catch at this point in time.

Just wanted to say nothin but the best fo this young man on the court and in the classroom.

From what I gather Phil is definitely a legit 7 footer there is no doubt about it but he is still a bit unpolished. I heard he has good hands, runs the floor well, and is smart with the basketball however he needs to add a good amount of weight.

I was was a bit unimpressed with the scouting report I got. He is definitely not starter material and is more of a project than a sure ready guy. My source told me that he could wind being like an Aaron Gray esque guy or not so much.

He is a smart player and fundamentally sound however athleticism and toughness is definitely a question mark.

Quote from: oldred10 on June 04, 2008, 01:28:52 PM

"Big Man Finishes Up Campus Trip And Decides"

By Mike Sullivan

Posted Jun 4, 2008 

http://hsnewyork.scout.com/2/759579.html

St. John's received an answer today on Wait, who gave Roberts a commitment. According to sources, Wait played at a basketball academy in the Canary Islands. He shed about 40 pounds to get down to 240. Sources say he is much improved from his days at Proctor and runs the floor much better.

Sources indicate that Wait will see some rotational time this upcoming season while become more of an impact player by the time he is a sophomore.
 

Thanks for the update oldred, seems like a good catch at this point in time.

 No problem red. This kid is definitely going to help us in the near future. Bottom line is he is pretty athletic, runs the court very well & is 7'1. If he bulks  up a bit we may really have something. At the very least he gives us a legit bigman that enables us to match-up with just about anyone in the country along the frontline imo... btw - He actually looks like the "bizzaro" Jeff Allen..  .. peace!



p.s. - Let's GO Redmen!!!

Zagsblog confirming what this board knew two days ago.. 

http://njmg.typepad.com/zagsblog/2008/06/wait-to-st-john.html#more

Wait to St. John's



Phil Wait, a 7-foot-1, 265-pound center originally from Manchester, England, has committed to St. John's.

"That is true," said Gregor Makechnie, head coach at Proctor (N.H.) Academy, where Wait played previously. "He's a long player. He's every bit of 7-1, he's almost 7-2."

Wait, who spent this past season at the Gran Canaria Basketball Academy in Spain, previously had offers from Providence and Rhode Island and interest from Kentucky, but opted to spend a year in Spain, Makechnie said.

"When he was with us he needed to improve his toughness," Makechnie said. "He spent last year at a basketball academy in Spain and all the reports are that he's developed some toughness. We have another one of our kids from England was at my place last weekend and he said (Wait) has really gotten a lot tougher."

Makechnie said he Wait also needed to get stronger, which he believes he has.

"I haven't seen him play since he was with us," the coach said. "Assuming he's made gains, he's been in a program where he's playing basketball six hours a day and he made the type of gains, he probably can come in and help right away."

St. John's now has 12 scholarship players, so if they add 6-5 shooting guard Donald Williams, who finished up a visit Thursday, that would max them out. The Johnnies have two seniors next season, Anthony Mason Jr. and Tomas Jasiulionis.

So where does Sean Kilpatrick stand?? Is he not an option?

So where does Sean Kilpatrick stand?? Is he not an option?

All signs point to Kilpatrick being an '09 recruit. Which means we are still very much in the mix for him.

talk about kilpatrick in his thread keep discussion to wait here please

June 6, 2008

St. John's lands 7-foot British import

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/weiss/

St. John’s is in the process of holding a monster team camp on their campus this week. All the big programs from the city are there and we were excited to hear Lance Stephenson of Lincoln and Juice All Stars was participating in the games.

Johnnies coach Norm Roberts and his staff are continuing to take an aggressive approach in recruiting, getting a commitment from 7-1 Phil Wait, who is originally from Manchester, England, and spent this past year at a sports academy in Spain. The Red Storm is one of two, along with Marquette, for 6-5 guard Donald Williams of Progressive Christian (Md.) Academy.