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The 6th Man of St. John's Basketball

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Source: Junior College Forward Jerry Cummings is Possible Walk-On for St. John’s

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Since news broke in September that three St. John’s recruits from the Class of 2011 were to be ruled ineligible by the NCAA, questions about depth on the Red Storm roster have lingered.

With indications pointing toward Amir Garrett making his St. John’s debut in the second semester, the Red Storm could have some relief in a depleted frontcourt.

Cummings (left) is a walk-on possibility for the Red Storm. (Photo: Facebook)
And more help may be on the way.

Introducing, Jerry Cummings.

Sources tell JohnnyJungle.com that the 6’7” swingman, who last played at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas, could possibly walk onto the Red Storm in the second semester.

Cummings is not currently enrolled in classes at St. John’s and says he has not spoken to the staff, but is continuing to work out in preparation.

“I’m originally from New York and am a fan of St. John’s,” he said in an exclusive interview. “I just want to win.”

The Queens native played his high school ball at Notre Dame Prep (Md.), which has produced such NBA players as Michael Beasley, Ryan Gomes, and Lazar Hayward, before heading to a year of prep school at Mississippi Christian Academy.

Steve Keller who is president of one of the largest scouting services in the country, The National Recruiting Report, recalls Cummings in high school:

“Jerry could do a lot of things really well,” said Keller. “But he hadn’t mastered any one particular skill. To make an impact at the Big East level, he would need to become more physical and play with more aggressiveness.”

At that time, two years ago, Keller rated Cummings as a player who could do well at a low-major Division I school.

Cummings would bring another option to the small/power forward position for the Red Storm, with his athleticism and shooting touch.

He has graduated from Garden City with a 2.9 GPA, though the specifics of his academic record in relation to NCAA eligibility are undetermined.

If he were to clear, he would have three years of eligibility.

Check back to JohnnyJungle.com for any breaking news.

Steve Lavin’s Big Recruiting Problem at St. John’s

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St. John’s has hit the point in the rebuilding of their program where a major problem arises.

The Red Storm made it through the doldrums of the mid-2000s and reaped the rewards of their patience with a berth in the NCAA Tournament this past season, which has translated into a top-ranked recruiting class for next year.

What’s the problem, then?

There are now a lot of young, talented players that want to play for St. John’s and head coach Steve Lavin.

Lavin has secured nine players for 2011-2012, but what should he do with the rest? (Photo: Icon/SMI)
Obviously, it is a great problem to have, and one that programs strive to have. Lavin and his staff, with help from the immense opportunities with exposure and playing time that St. John’s has to offer, have courted some of the top talent in the country, nine of whom will be wearing Red Storm red and white next season.

And that last part, above, is the most important. Not only has this coaching staff gone after the best talent in the country, but they have closed the deal as well.

In the past, names like Kemba Walker, Lance Stephenson, and Sylven Landesberg have made their way across the Red Storm radar, before ending up at UConn, Cincinnati, and Virginia, respectively.

This year, Lavin has gotten the signature of nearly every top-tier recruit for whom St. John’s was on the trail. The Red Storm went into the ring with schools like Maryland and Arizona to get Maurice Harkless, with Louisville and Tennesse to get Jakarr Sampson, and with Michigan and West Virginia to get Sir’Dominic Pointer. St. John’s has reestablished itself as a national recruiting powerhouse and the time has come to face its new set of “problems”.

Following the signing of God’s Gift Achiuwa on April 29th, the Red Storm have six ESPNU Top 100 recruits and two highly-rated junior college transfers, but things may not be done for this season. Even with this nine-man class in his pocket, transfers and late signings are in full swing, and St. John’s is popping up on a number of lists.

Former NC State point guard Ryan Harrow has expressed interest in the Red Storm and has a full slate of official visits before making his decision. Along with St. John’s, he is taking trips to Kentucky, Texas, Georgia, and Louisville.

Daouda Soumaoro, an unsigned senior from Our Savior (NY), is an athletic, 6‘9” post player who can play either position on the block. At 215 pounds, he has more bulk than either Jakarr Sampson or Norvel Pelle, who would compete for minutes with Soumaoro, were he to sign.

In addition to being a teammate of 2012 St. John’s commit Jevon Thomas, Soumaoro is from Mali. Were he to sign with St. John’s, it would further the Red Storm’s recent history of recruiting African prospects, including graduating senior Dele Coker and the above-mentioned God’s Gift Achiuwa, both hailing from Nigeria.

And, most recently, rumors have circulated that Arizona rising-junior point guard Lamont “MoMo” Jones, who announced he is leaving the Wildcats, is interested in St. John’s. Multiple sources say he may also be seeking a waiver to exempt him from the rule that makes Division I transfers sit out for one season. Were he granted the waiver and signed with the Red Storm, the Harlem native could be active immediately and be part of the 2011-2012 team.

This is where the interesting scenarios begin to shake out for the Red Storm. With nine players signed, plus Dwayne Polee II and Malik Stith, St. John’s has two remaining scholarships. One, presumably, is reserved for highly-touted 2012 PG commit Jevon Thomas, but what is to be done with the other?

Talent is flooding in, but there are decisions to be made at St. John’s. As is clear, it is a wonderful problem for a program to have, with too much interested talent and not enough room.

With the nature of the NBA Draft, it is not out of the question that, out of this class of nine newcomers for the Red Storm, one or more could leave after one season. Guard Nurideen Lindsey was projected to be a second round pick in this year’s draft, had he skipped St. John’s and gone to the NBA out of Redlands Community College (OK).

On the horizon for St. John’s in 2012 is Thomas, mentioned above, along with strong interest from highly ranked forwards Kyle Anderson and Ricardo Gathers, both ranked in the Top 30 for their class by ESPNU.

So, how will Coach Lavin and the staff balance the scholarship scale?

Considering the point guard situation at the moment, with Stith, incoming freshman Phil Greene, and Lindsey, a decision by Harrow or Jones to transfer to St. John’s would create quite a log jam. There has been speculation as to whether Stith would transfer, but all indications are that he is staying. Lindsey is more of a scorer than a true point guard, but he and freshman D’Angelo Harrison appear to be the starting backcourt, going into next year.

Harrison, a dead-eye shooter from Texas, is the front-runner for the starting shooting guard spot next season. (Photo: ESPN)

Where would another transfer fit, especially Jones? Harrow would have to sit out a year, which could perhaps give enough time for the situation to shake out, until you remember Jevon Thomas’ commitment for 2012.

In addition, adding Soumaoro would give the Red Storm a great deal of length to swing around down low, with then five players 6’7”+ to play at the power forward and center spots (Pelle, Polee II, Sampson, Achiuwa, and Soumaoro). That would mean increased competition and depth, but reduced minutes for all.

Will St. John’s cash in on the interest this year, or wait for the talent that could come down the line?

Ricardo Gathers, mentioned above, is a 6’7”, 240 pound physical anomaly from LaPlace, Louisiana. He has incredible athleticism and finishes at the basket with authority. He took an official visit to St. John’s a few weeks ago, and is considering the Red Storm, along with schools like Texas, LSU, Ohio State, and Arizona.

Kyle Anderson, a local product from St. Anthony (NJ), is a very unique, skilled, and smooth forward who creates matchup problems with his length and size. At 6’7”, 210 pounds, with good ball-skills and a polished mid-range game, he could be another prize that St. John’s waits on in hopes of reeling him in to Queens. The Red Storm are on his short list, which also includes Seton Hall, Arizona, and UCLA.

In what direction will they head? Whichever way it ends up, this St. John’s program has gone from losing out on big-time prospects, to being the one snatching them away from other schools.

It is all part of the cycle of college basketball elites and underachievers and Steve Lavin has the Red Storm on their way to the peak of that cycle right now.

Future of St. John’s Shines at All-American Championship

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All roads converge in Houston.

And with all eyes focused on the NCAA Final Four, future college standouts descended upon Texas to showcase their skills in the first annual All-American Championship.

The Red Storm had a strong presence in Houston, featuring a combined four signees in the two all-star games.

Forward Sir’Dominic Pointer was the lone Johnny in the afternoon’s first game, tallying 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals in the South’s 93-91 overtime victory over the North.

The 6’6” swingman from Quality Education Academy (NC) is regarded by ESPN Recruiting Insider Dave Telep as “the most improved wing in [the Class of 2011]”. In the spring of 2010, he was projected to be a mid-major recruit, but a strong summer showing and impressive senior season at Quality Ed. has lifted him all the way to #34 on ESPNU’s Top 100 prospects of 2011.

Most impressive for Pointer in this All-American Championship was his defensive presence. Even in an offensively-based All-Star game, Pointer showed flashes of defensive brilliance, including locking down and picking the pocket of guard Ryan Boatright, a UConn signee, and diving on the floor for the loose ball.

On defensive prowess alone, Pointer could find himself in Steve Lavin’s starting lineup next season, bringing toughness and hustle to what will be an incredibly young roster.

(From left) Sampson, Harrison, Pointer, and Harkless gave St. John’s fans something to look forward to moving into next season. (Photo: Facebook)

But his offensive game is something of note, as well.

Pointer showed confidence driving to the basket in traffic with either hand, finishing a pretty dribble-drive through contact with the left hand in the third quarter and knocking down a free throw to convert the 3-point play. Also, his rise-and-fire three pointer in overtime helped the South to victory.

Maurice Harkless of South Kent (CT), Steve Lavin’s first commit from the Class of 2011, won Most Outstanding Player for the East, pouring in 15 points. With a balance of an inside game at the rim and the ability to knock down the jumper in the mid-range, Harkless showed the versatility that will translate to the college game next season.

His night was highlighted by an acrobatic dunk in the third quarter, when he took a pass off the backboard from Rutgers-bound point guard Myles Mack and threw it down for the slam.

D’Angelo Harrison, the 6’3” guard from Dulles High School (TX), put his highly-touted scoring ability on display early, with 8 points in the first three minutes of the game. He finished with 21 points to go with 6 rebounds.

Harrison showed his fearless knack for shooting the ball on the West’s first possession, launching a three from the right wing with a hand in his face and knocking it down. He was effective both off the dribble, getting to the basket, as well as from distance, which explains the 31 points per game he averaged this past season at Dulles.

The fourth recruit to participate in Houston, JaKarr Sampson of Brewster Academy (NH), added 10 points. He showed good dribbling and face-up skills in the post, which will create match-up problems for opposing defenses next season at St. John’s.

His most impressive play came on the defensive end, when he rejected UCLA-bound Norman Powell on a dunk attempt. Though called for a foul on the play, he appeared to get the clean block and showed his aggressiveness and willingness to lock down at the rim.

All four players give Johnnies fans a glimpse of the future, one that, next year, will be a very youthful and athletic bunch.

St. John’s is currently ranked as the second overall recruiting class by ESPNU, with nine overall commits, six of whom are in the ESPNU Top 100.

Lavin Inks 5 And Attracts More Recruits

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Head Coach Steve Lavin is doing wonders with the St. John’s program in his first 6 months on the job. It seems like almost every day there is more positive news coming out about the Red Storm. On Thursday, Lavin received his 5th national letter of intent of the class of 2011.

Dom Pointer at the Kevin Durant Skills Academy. The 6'5 swing will be the stopper for the Red Storm. (Kelly Kline)
Sir’Dominick Pointer is the fifth player to sign his national letter of intent, following Maurice Harkless, D’Angelo Harrison, JaKarr Sampson and Nurideen Lindsey all who committed on Wednesday.

“This class, which will become one of the largest signed in collegiate basketball, comprises the foundation of the St. John’s program moving forward,” said Lavin. “The arrival of the 2011-12 class, along with an elite returning talent in Dwayne Polee II, is the core group that will carry the Johnnies into the future.”

“I’m glad I got it out of the way,” says Sampson. “Now I can focus on school and basketball.”

For Sampson signing his national letter of intent was not only a big deal for him, but for his mother as well.

“There was weight on my shoulders all summer, calls were coming in every day,” said Sampson. “It had my mom all stressed out but now that it’s over with she finally has peace of mind.”

His new teammate Nurideen Lindsey is just as happy to sign on the dotted line.

“It feels great,” said an excited Lindsey when I asked him about officially signing his national letter of intent to St. John’s.

It’s been a long process for the Redlands Community College point guard, but certainly it is one that has paid off.

“I’m ready to finally get out there with the other great guys that are coming in with me,” said Lindsey. “Now I can spend more time in the gym because my decision is made.”

Moe Harkless is the guy that got the 2011 class started. Without him taking the leap of faith this class may not have taken the same course.

“Maurice is the best player in New York City,” said Lavin. “He is an excellent athlete, highly-skilled and versatile enough to contribute at multiple positions.”

Aside from the actual skills on the court Harkless possess, Lavin continues to let everyone know how important it is to keep kids from New York, playing basketball in New York.

“Maurice is going to be our ‘pied piper,” said coach Lavin. “His choice in coming to St. John’s will lead other elite local talent back to New York City’s college basketball program.”

Focusing back on Lindsey, he is the player in the shadows not being mentioned, but his play is going to change that.

On November 2nd against Ft. Scott, in his first game in over a year, Lindsey dropped 48 points. He followed that game with a 26 point, 7 assists, 7 steals, 5 rebounds performance against Labette, and on top of that, he poured in 33 points on Monday against South Plains College.

Nuri Lindsey might be the best player in the country no one is talking about. He will be suiting up the Red Storm in 2011 after playing a year at Red Lands Community College in Oklahoma. (Redlands CC Athletic Communications)
“I’m not into playing for spotlight, other peoples opinions, or anything in that nature,” said Lindsey. “I play for my team and my program.”

With everything he has been through, all this talk about recognition and hype go by the wayside, he is ready to let his play do the talking.

“When the time is right,” Lindsey said sternly, “I’ll shine for everybody that don’t know who I am.”

Everyone on the other hand knows about D’Angelo Harrison and Sir’ Dominic Pointer.

Harrison is coming all the way from Texas to be apart of the Red Storm, and he comes with high praise.

“D’Angelo is a dynamic combination guard. He is a prolific scorer and clearly one of the best shooters in the nation,” said Lavin.

Pointer is also hailing from a distance, bringing his talents down to the big apple from Michigan.

“In addition to a well-rounded offensive skill set, Dominic is a dynamic athlete who has demonstrated a propensity at the defensive end of the floor,” said Lavin. “We envision Dom growing into a role as a defensive stopper. It is refreshing to find a player at his young age that prides himself in defense like Dominic does.”

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better another domino falls in favor of the Red Storm.

Earlier today, 6’10 power forward from Prince High School in Long Beach, California, Norvel Pelle verbally committed to St. John’s on ESPNU.

“It feels like a home away from home,” said Pelle. “Coach Lavin is a very smart coach. I just loved the way he approached the situation. He was calm, and cool, He knew other schools wanted me and he gave me space and also made sure I knew they wanted me.”

One of Pelle’s potential new teammate, JaKarr Sampson is excited with the verbal and knows this makes St. John’s that much better.

“He is a real cool guy, he’s goofy like me,” said Sampson. “Norvel is a great shot blocker, athletic, he can jump out the gym, it’s just fun to play with those kind of players.”

Sampson said Pelle is the perfect fit and “it’s not just another big man, he doesn’t just stand there, he is crazy athletic and can run the floor.” Sampson confidently said that people better be ready, “we are going to hit the ground running.”

Pelle visited St. John’s last weekend and was in attendance for the 100-42 Red Storm exhibition win over Westmont. During the game the students in the jungle [student section] chanted “We want Pelle,” and apparently Pelle wanted St. John’s too.

The news of St. John’s success on the recruiting trail for 2011 is spreading like wild fire. Everyone is taking notice, even class of 2013, Christ the King PG, Isaiah Lewis.

“Yes, I’m really considering St. johns,” speaking about his budding interest after taking notice on twitter to their success on the recruiting trail. “I like what coach Lavin is doing right now. I’m going to take some visits up there to see how he practices and things like that, but they are on my radar for sure.”

Lewis said he plans on visiting the St. John’s campus sometime in the month of December.

The 2011 class for Steve Lavin gets exponentially better with the addition of a solid big man like Pelle.

How much better you may ask? Well at 4:30pm in New York, ESPN had St. John’s as the #7 class in 2011. As of 5:30pm they are now #3.

This recruiting class is already exuberating excitement and confidence as it nears completion. JaKarr Sampson is already looking into his crystal ball. “They are going to have to make room for us on Sports Center once they see a couple games.” You have to love the sound of that if you are a Red Storm fan.

The season kicks off for coach Lavin and his Red Storm on Tuesday, November 16th as St. John’s travels to Moraga, California to take on the St. Mary’s Gaels. Be sure to check out JohnnyJungle.com for Calm Before the Storm the must read column before every St. John’s basketball game providing in depth analysis on the Red Storm and their opponent.

The Lavin Effect

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Not too long ago, the Red Storm fan base was sulking after a disappointing NIT loss to the Memphis Tigers. Another year was gone, full of missed opportunities, poor coaching and most of all a sense of despair. The fans were angry; tired of the losses, tired of the way the losses were coming and tired of not seeing the effort for progression. During a time where everything seemed bleak and there was nothing to hope for, in a blink of an eye, everything changed.

Steve Lavin is still all smiles five months after joining St. John's, and fans share the coach's bright view of the program's future. (WSJU Blog)
The storyline of the off-season, and presumably the entire 2010-2011 season will be about new head coach Steve Lavin and his coaches. But how can you talk or write about anything else when in a span of seven months Lavin and Co. have given St. John’s a face-lift that would make Joan Rivers jealous.

It’s funny with the additions to the class of 2011 happening what seems like weekly, some people have come out and used the word “greedy” to describe the St. John’s fan base. What people who are not fans of the Red Storm don’t understand is these fans have been suffering for many years now. Now is the time to get greedy, now is the time to load up and stick it back in the faces of all the big programs. Now is the time for St. John’s and its fans to stick out their tongues and say confidently, “it’s our turn!” How long can one program suffer, it’s not about greed, it’s about change, a new image and a new mentality.

You get what you pay for. A saying people generally use to describe a used car or furniture but it’s a phrase that should be associated with what has transpired since coach Lavin was hired. A big name, with a big smile and a big mouth, add that to a large contract and what do you get, a revitalized program.

“The majority of the credit will go to Lavin,” said college basketball insider Jon Rothstein. “He has done an amazing job recruiting, the staff has been tremendous and his infectious personality just makes him that much better.”

There is legitimate buzz about St. John’s basketball, yet everyone needs to take a step back and take a deep breath. Look back to March when the names of Seth Greenberg, Paul Hewitt and Steve Donahue were being floated around as the next head coach of the red and white. For weeks there were arguments as to who would be the best fit, and then along came Lavin and the love fest began.

I remember being at the introductory press conference for Steve Lavin as the 19th head coach in school history and in front of over 300 media members; Lavin was as cool as ever. When I asked him a question he would look me dead in the eyes as I scribbled down quotes, and he literally made me feel like we were having a conversation, one-on-one. Some have dubbed his charm and charisma as the “Lavin effect” and thus being a major factor in the ability to currently have the #5 recruiting class for 2011 season. He works the room like a comedian with the poise and class of the president of the United States, I guess this “Lavin Effect” is something neat to have, its better to be able to experience it first hand.

But has it all happened too fast? The recruiting battles that have taken place over the summer have lifted spirits and begun to insure confidence, but like a bad movie, there seems to be a hole in the plot.

Steve Lavin will be back roaming the sidelines for the first time since 2003 after taking a 7 year sabbatical. (Icon SMI)
There still is basketball to be played before the major benefits of Lavin come rolling along in 2011. It seems like many have forgotten or set aside the upcoming season for the one that is being hailed as a resurrection of the fallen.

Here’s what I’m getting at, it’s remarkable how the apprehension that was associated with St. John’s basketball has been turned into optimism and enthusiasm. From the doldrums to the doorstep of success and all it took was a different name on the head coach’s office door.

But what it’s all about is the epic change of attitude when one utters “St. John’s basketball” from last winter to present day. It has been a seismic shift of perception that has people feeling like the best is yet to come. The St. John’s talk is everywhere, headlines, radio, message boards, the Red Storm, are red hot.

“Lavin will get the credit, him getting the commitments is the big reason people are talking,” says Rothstein. “But the fans need to remember, you can’t evaluate a class until they have played for a couple of years.”

While the fans are giddy over the commitments from Moe Harkless, JaKarr Sampson, Dom Pointer, Nurideen Lindsey and D’Angelo Harrison, they need to be realistic with their expectations. It’s all well and good right now, but this team in 2011 will be very young, and very inexperienced.

“There will definitely be a transitioning period,” Rothstein said sternly. “Expecting big impact from freshmen is crazy. You have to wait until they get punched in the chin and prove themselves.” And that is something the fan base needs to remember, the names looks amazing but everything right now is being based on paper.

With all that being said the different outlook with the St. John’s community has started to brew up lofty expectations.

“Magazine articles, expectations and hype is good but you have to win in January, February, and March,” said Rothstein. “That’s when you prove yourself.”

Regardless of the talk and hoopla, a change has come to Red Storm basketball. It’s all pomp and circumstance until that basketball goes up in the air for the first time in late November of 2010. Until that time the fans, media and prognosticators will do what they do best, talk and build the hype. The rest is up to the “Lavin Effect” and how it will translate to the 15 players that have bought into it.