Steve Lavin took the job at St. John’s to turn the program around and bring it back to prominence. After assembling an elite coaching staff, bringing in Dwayne Polee, Lavin began focusing on the 2011 recruiting class. Queens, New York native Maurice Harkless, a top 75 recruit was the first to board the Lavin “Ark.” Last week the St. John’s Red Storm welcomed the 6-7 dynamic forward JaKarr Sampson to the family.

Sampson, a consensus top 50 player in the 2011 class made his decision on ESPNU on Thursday, September 16th and gave even more hope to the future of St. John’s. “He’s versatile and demonstrates a high skill level, which makes him a difficult matchup for opponents,” said Brewster Academy coach Jason Smith. Now that Sampson has made his decision, which he told me “felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders,” he was nice enough to take some time out and let us get know him a little better.

David Berov: Who is someone you model your game after?
JaKarr Sampson: Kevin Durant and I have to say LeBron.

DB: Are you a big LeBron James fan being from Ohio? Do you have a relationship with LeBron?
JS: Yea me and LeBron are close, he is a really cool guy. I call him up ask him questions, he’s like a mentor to me.

DB: Who has been most instrumental to you in your development in the game of basketball?
JS: I’d have to say my coaches, mainly coach Dru [Joyce – Head Coach of St. Vincent-St. Marys]

DB: It’s 15 minutes before tip off of your 1st regular season game at Carnesecca Arena…what’s the song you want to hear to get you pumped up?
JS: Right Above It by Lil Wayne and Drake.

DB: Besides basketball what else do you like to do as a hobby?
JS: I just like to hang out with my friends, playing jokes on people and keep everyone laughing.

DB: You can have dinner with any 3 people in the entire world living or dead, who are they?
JS: It would have to be Kobe Bryant, definitely Beyonce (laughs) and I’d have to say LeBron.

David Berov: Favorite movie?
JaKarr Sampson: I like all of them, but I’d say Inception

DB: Any hidden talents?
JS: I like to draw, I don’t know if I’m any good but it’s something I like to do.

DB: Alright cool so if JohnnyJungle needs a new logo we are coming to you.
JS: [laughs] alright no problem.

DB: What was it about St. John’s that you liked so much?
JS: I just liked the atmosphere of everything, coach Lavin and the staff. I really liked that they have coaches on the staff that have been in the NBA because that’s my ultimate goal, to be in the NBA.

DB: What was it that Coach Lavin and the other coaches said that sold you on St. John’s?
JS: They said a lot but it was more of the fact that I just felt real comfortable at St. John’s and I had a really good feeling about being here.

David Berov: You announced your decision on ESPNU on Thursday at 5:30 P.M, when did you actually make your decision?
JaKarr Sampson: I made my decision around 5 that day. We drove up there kind of early and I got to meet all the ESPN guys, where they shoot NFL Live it was really cool.

Yea I’m trying to help recruit Naadir [Tharpe] up here. Yea I talked to him, we talk everyday, he’s cool with the idea of playing here.

DB: What’s next for you? Will you be trying to bring any friends along with you?
JS: Yea I’m trying to help recruit Naadir [Tharpe] up here.

DB: How’s that going? Have you talked to him already?
JS: Yea I talked to him, we talk everyday, he’s cool with the idea of playing here.

DB: What’s one part in your game that you are working hard to improve for Big East play?
JS: My strength and I’m really working on my 3 point shot.

DB: What position are you most comfortable at?
JS: I’m really comfortable at the 3. (Small Forward) I like the fact that If I have a smaller defender I can just take him in the post, or if they try to size up with me I can take them off the dribble.

David Berov: What does playing in New York & MSG mean to you?
JaKarr Sampson: That means a lot! That’s the garden, there’s been a lot big name talent. I think that has to be any young players dream to play at MSG.

DB: Have you ever played at the garden before?
JS: No, I’ve never played there, never been inside, I’ve only seen the outside.

DB: What’s something you want St. John’s fans to know upon your arrival?
JS: I just want them to know that I’m going to bring the highlights and bringing the fame back to St. John’s basketball. They were really good back in the day and I’m looking forward to bringing St. John’s back to that level.

It looks like coach Lavin reeled in a pretty big fish here, and he is going to be quite the catch. I think it is clear to see that JaKarr Sampson has the proper goals in mind much like coach Lavin, for his St. John’s tenure. The Red Storm fans are buzzing with the commitment by Sampson and the scary part about all these early happenings is this is only the beginning for St. John’s.