The level of recruits is down in NYC, yes. However that's not to say that this is par for the course. If you look at rosters around the country (and I'm not talking about the powerhouses), there are big kids littered across roster in mid-majors and high majors that are from NYC or surrounding areas. A lot of these kids were under-recruited coming out of HS for a variety of reasons.
This is where scouting and talent evaluation comes into play. The SJU staff has done a poor job of identifying these diamonds in the rough. When I see these kids contributing in the #$%^ing MAC and other mid level conferences, it's a huge indictment on the laziness or the lack of talent evaluation by Lavin's staff.
Just because NYC doesn't produce talent the way it used to, doesn't mean you should turn a blind eye towards it because there's several kids who could've helped this team this year.
I would never say turn a blind eye to any potential recruits, but the fact of the matter is what Pete, Baldi and I are talking about - the demographics are changing, and so is the recruiting landscape.
If I look at the WCAC, many of the players on DeMatha, Gonzaga, St. John's, whomever, incresingly come from the suburbs. When Glen Farello left Eleanor Roosevelt in Prince George's County, MD (just outside DC), he went to Fairfax County, VA WCAC member Paul VI, which was kind of like St. john's in the 2000s - experiencing an above average season every 4-5 years (Red Jenkins was the coach and had some D1 players go through). But Farello comes in, and what does he do? He starts recruiting PG County like crazy, bringing in Stan Robinson, Franklin Howard, Marcus Derrickson. It is just the way it is. The times, they are a changing. He who doesn't adapt, will be passed by.
BTW - and if Cuse can get Howard, so can we - I still don't know why the staff totally ignores DC - cannot compete with locals? Cuse does, Nova does... Time to start mining Baltimore - I can see it - maybe I'm foolish or unknowledgeable, but I know a sweet spot for SJ's when I see it. Gotta pluck a player or two from Charm City. No, not clowns like Carr, real D1 4 year city ballers. They're still there in larger numbers in a smaller city.
Look at Daxter Miles
"Ballers make plays, dudes are dudes."
https://youtu.be/09lxY8vNjiI