St John's

2008-09 St. John's Basketball Preview: #142

Joel Welser — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:32:57 -0700

St. John’s Red Storm

Overall Rank: #142
Conference Rank: #14 Big East

2007-08: 11-19, 5-13, 14th
2007-08 postseason: none

The youth and inexperience excuses are not going to fly this year at St. John’s. Well, at least not as much. This is still a team that only has three upperclassmen on the roster, but a large group of freshmen saw a lot of playing time last season. Anthony Mason Jr. is one of those senior leaders and the forward is a game changer when he is healthy. During Big East play in 2008, when he was almost at full strength, Mason Jr. performed very well and ended the year averaging 14.0 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Who’s Out:
Replacing Eugene Lawrence at the point guard spot is a concern. Lawrence’s turnovers might have been a little high and his scoring was inconsistent, but he was a good team leader. Backcourt mate Larry Wright was the most consistent outside shooter on the team, but will not be suiting up for the Red Storm in 2008. Little used wing Mike Cavataio has also left the program after his freshman campaign.

Who’s In:
With so few losses on the team, this year’s group of freshmen will not be asked to contribute nearly as much as 2007’s class of newcomers. But the backcourt certainly needs some more depth and Quincy Roberts and TyShawn Edmondson will provide just that. Roberts, a 6-5 shooting guard, is a decent shooter and could fill a role off the bench right away. Edmondson will fill a couple needs for the Johnnies. He is really a point guard, but he has enough scoring prowess to play off the ball as well and that is what this team really needs right now, but a back-up point guard is nice to have too. Phil Wait, a 7-1 center, will need some time to develop his game, but he could be an interesting prospect to keep an eye on in the upcoming years.

Who to Watch:
Malik Boothe, D.J. Kennedy and Paris Horne saw plenty of action as freshmen in the backcourt, but are they ready to take over a majority of the minutes? The biggest issue is Boothe replacing Lawrence at the point. He showed plenty of potential and poise as a freshman and even had a better assist-to-turnover ratio than Lawrence, but fitting in a new point guard is always a concern. Kennedy started nearly every game last season and proved to be a capable scorer getting to the basket. Finding somebody who could consistently hit the three-pointer besides Mason Jr. would be nice though.

Final Projection:
Just like in the backcourt, the frontcourt is full of talented youngsters who need to start turning potential into production if St. John’s wants to have a successful season. Sophomore Justin Burrell is the best of the bunch after averaging 10.8 points and a team high 5.9 rebounds as a freshman. Dele Coker started a handful of games and the 6-10 center was starting to look more comfortable around the basket by the end of his freshman capamign. Add fellow sophomores Sean Evans and Rob Thomas, who might finally be healthy, and experienced senior Tomas Jasiulionis to the mix and the Red Storm’s frontcourt is suddenly looking pretty good. However, the team looked pretty good last year too and still ended with a disappointing 5-13 conference record.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:
Malik Boothe, Sophomore, Guard, 3.0 points per game
D.J. Kennedy, Sophomore, Guard, 7.8 points per game
Anthony Mason, Jr., Senior, Forward, 14.0 points per game
Justin Burrell, Sophomore, Forward, 10.8 points per game
Tomas Jasiulionis, Senior, Center, 2.0 points per game

St. John's Signs Phil Wait to NLI

Press Release — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:51:12 -0700

QUEENS, N.Y. (June 9, 2008) – St. John’s head men’s basketball coach Norm Roberts announced the signing of English big man Phil Wait to a national letter of intent to join the Red Storm for the 2008-09 season. Wait, a 7-1, 245-pound center originally from Manchester, England, is the third spring signee for Roberts’ squad, in addition to guards TyShwan Edmondson (Hopkinsville, Ky./University Heights Academy) and Quincy Roberts (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg), who both signed in late April.

“Phil is a great kid with great size and an unbelievable basketball I.Q.,” said Roberts, entering his fifth year at the helm of the Red Storm. “He will certainly add size to our program and the kind of skill level in the low post that can make an impact for us next season.”

A long and talented true big man, Wait can score over both shoulders, is an adept passer out of the post and owns a solid jumper to 15-feet. The skilled center spent the 2007-08 season at the Gran Canaria Basketball Academy off the coast of Spain, following two years in prep school at Proctor Academy in Andover, New Hampshire.

Wait played for coach Gregor Makechnie for two seasons at Proctor in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), the same league as former Bridgton Academy (Maine) stars and current St. John’s teammates Justin Burrell and Paris Horne. As a junior in 2005-06, Wait helped the Hornets to an appearance in the NEPSAC championship game, while playing alongside Proctor teammate and current UConn guard Jerome Dyson. Wait averaged 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior at Proctor in 2006-07.

“Phil is a big, long guy that is very mobile and athletic for his size, and by all accounts he added more strength during his year in Spain,” said Makechnie. “He is a delightful young man. I think people at St. John’s and fans of the program will enjoy getting to know Phil.”

Check back with RedStormSports.com, the home of St. John’s Basketball on the Internet, for the latest Spring NLI updates.

St. John's Names All-Century Team

Press Release — Thu, 29 May 2008 09:12:33 -0700

QUEENS, N.Y. (May 29, 2008) - St. John's University is proud to announce its All-Century Team, comprised of 50 legends from the men's basketball program's first 100 years on the hardwood.

St. John's All-Century Team will be honored at the 100 Years of St. John's Basketball Banquet, which will be held on Tuesday, June 10 at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan. The year-long celebration of St. John's University's basketball centennial will come to a close at the event honoring a century of success on the hardwood. For information or to purchase tickets for the banquet, please contact Jaclyn Lent, Office of Advancement Events, at 718-990-6816 or by e-mail at lentj@stjohns.edu.

"The Early Years" - 1907-08 to 1939-40

Matty Begovich, 1929-31

A freshman starter for the Wonder Five in 1929-30 as the man in the pivot, Begovich helped St. John's to a 44-2 record across his two seasons. Begovich's skills allowed head coach Buck Freeman's revolutionary offensive style to come into existence, which emphasized constant ball-movement and the ability to run set plays through the pivot position.

Jack "Dutch" Garfinkel, 1938-41

A creative playmaker credited by some for the creation of the no-look pass, Garfinkel averaged 5.9 points per game under coach Joe Lapchick and led St. John's in assists before assists became an official statistic. His unselfish play and mastery of the bounce pass were instrumental in helping his teams to NIT appearances in 1939 and 1940.

Jack "Rip" Gerson, 1927-31

The Wonder Five's defensive specialist for four seasons, Gerson's play was critical to Buck Freeman's scheme on that end of the floor, where St. John's was able to hold opponents to long scoring droughts by playing tight defense and "keep away" on offense. Gerson was part of Freeman's three-man freshman class that would come to be known as the greatest team in the early years of collegiate basketball.

Mac Kinsbrunner, 1927-31

A four-year Wonder Five member under coach Buck Freeman, Kinsbrunner was the squad's best ballhandler and playmaker. His dribbling ability and skills as a set-up man helped St. John's to a new level of success, as the team attracted such large crowds it outgrew smaller venues and began play in Madison Square Garden.

Bill McKeever, 1937-40

A great passer and defender for St. John's and head coach Joe Lapchick, McKeever helped his team to a 48-13 record and two NIT appearances in three years on the varsity squad. A complete athlete, he scored 51 field goals and averaged 7.1 points per game during the 1937-40 season.

Max Posnack, 1927-31

Recognized as the most outstanding player of his time, Posnack was a four-year Wonder Five member and the team's leader as a two-year captain. A passing specialist, Posnack led his team to a four-year win-loss total of 85-8, cementing the St. John's squad's legacy among the best the world had ever seen up to that time.

Allie Shuckman, 1928-31

The fifth component of Buck Freeman's Wonder Five, Shuckman was known as "the shooter" from the moment he hit the hardwood. His ability to connect from distance enabled St. John's to spread the floor in Freeman's offense, enabling the constant ball-movement that changed the game forever.

"Classic Times" - 1940-41 to 1972-73

Gus Alfieri, 1956-59

Combining with Alan Seiden to form one of the most successful backcourts in St. John's history, Alfieri was the Redmen's top ballhandler and playmaker for three seasons under Joe Lapchick. He averaged 12.3 points per game as a senior, helping St. John's to the 1959 NIT title.

Harry Boykoff, 1942-43, 1945-47

St. John's first true big man at 6-9, Boykoff guided the Redmen to the first NIT title in school history in 1943. After serving in the military during World War II, he returned and became the first St. John's player to score more than 1,000 career points. He owns the second and third greatest scoring games in school history, with 54 points vs. St. Francis on March 11, 1947, and 45 points vs. St. Joseph's on Feb. 8, 1943, both coming at Madison Square Garden.

Mel Davis, 1970-72

One of the all-time great scorers (1,130 points, 34th) and rebounders (845, seventh) in school history, Davis made his mark in only two seasons, averaging 20.9 points per game and 15.6 rebounds for his career. He grabbed 26 rebounds in a game against Seton Hall in 1971, which still stands as a Carnesecca Arena record.

Joe DePre, 1967-70

The final captain during Lou Carnesecca's first stint at St. John's, DePre ranks 25th all-time with 1,272 career points, and averaged 16.5 points per game during his senior season. His squad made the NIT title game in 1970 after a NCAA regional appearance in 1969 and a first round berth in 1968.

Lloyd "Sonny" Dove, 1964-67

One of only two players in St. John's history with more than 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, Dove starred in the late 1960s, first under Joe Lapchick and then Lou Carnesecca. Dove currently ranks 10th all-time in St. John's history with 1,576 career points and is second all-time with 1,036 boards.

LeRoy Ellis, 1959-62

One of the greatest rebounders in school history, the wiry Ellis still ranks fifth all-time with 927 boards, and holds the single-season mark (16.5 in 1961-62) and single-game record (30 vs. NYU, 1961) as well. Playing for Joe Lapchick and most of his career alongside Tony Jackson, Ellis is also listed 24th on St. John's all-time scoring chart with 1,289 career points.

Hy Gotkin, 1942-45

A diminutive guard, Gotkin was the only St. John's player to be a part of both the 1943 and 1944 NIT championship teams. A playmaker and scorer alongside Harry Boykoff, Gotkin averaged a solid 8.4 points per game across his three-year career.

Jerry Houston, 1962-65

Joe Lapchick's last captain, Houston teamed with the McIntyre brothers and Lloyd "Sonny" Dove to send their Hall of Fame coach off as a champion in the 1965 NIT Tournament. Two of Houston's five points in the title game vs. Villanova came on the free throw line with seven seconds to play, helping St. John's hang on for a 55-51 victory. The New York Daily News headline summed up the sentiment the next morning with the headline, "What A Way To Go."

Tony Jackson, 1958-61

Arguably the most talented player in school history, Jackson, a two-time consensus All-American, is listed ninth among St. John's all-time scoring leaders with 1,603 points. He is also third on the all-time rebounding list with 991 career boards. Jackson was named the MVP of both the ECAC Holiday Festival and the Postseason NIT during his first season on the varsity team, 1958-59. His 21.1 points per game scoring average is second all-time in school history.

Andrew "Fuzzy" Levane, 1940-43

Averaging 8.3 points per game during his senior season, Levane was a key contributor and playmaker on St. John's 1943 NIT championship team. He was the Haggerty Award winner as New York City's finest, and went on to play and coach during a professional basketball career that spanned 65 years.

Kevin Loughery, 1960-62

A star for Joe Lapchick in the early 1960s, he teamed with Tony Jackson and LeRoy Ellis to help St. John's combine for a 41-10 record across his two seasons. He averaged 13.1 points per game during those years, before going on to great success as a NBA coach and broadcaster.

Al McGuire, 1948-51

One of the most enduring and recognizable figures in the sport of basketball, McGuire averaged 8.1 points per game for his career and was known as a defensive stopper. He went on to guide Marquette to the NCAA title as a coach in 1977, and continued later with a successful career in broadcasting. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.

Dick McGuire, 1943-44, 1946-49

A standout during the 1940s and a member of the 1944 NIT Championship team, McGuire will always be remembered for his playmaking abilities, court sense and ball-handling skills. McGuire was a two-time Haggerty Award winner, before and after serving in the military, signifying his presence as New York City's most outstanding collegiate player. McGuire was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Bob McIntyre, 1963-66

The younger of the McIntyre brothers, his three-year playing career included three NIT appearances, the most famous of which sent Joe Lapchick off in fine fashion in 1965. During the four-game postseason run, McIntyre averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. He stands 20th on the St. John's scoring list (1,349 points) and ranks 22nd on the all-time rebounding chart (665 boards).

Ken McIntyre, 1962-65

A consistent scorer and free throw shooter for the Redmen, the older of the McIntyre brothers was the 1965 NIT Tournament Most Valuable player, scoring a team-high 18 points in Joe Lapchick's final game and averaging 25.2 points per game in the postseason. His 87.8 percent free throw shooting effort as a senior in 1964-65 is third all-time in school history, as is his 81.9 career free throw percentage.

Jack McMahon, 1949-52

A standout defender and the first guard in St. John's history to score more than 1,000 career points, McMahon keyed Frank McGuire's Redmen to their 1952 NCAA title game appearance as a senior. His floor leadership and trademark two-handed set shot earned him All-America honors and an accomplished pro career.

Billy Paultz, 1968-70

Known as "The Whopper," 6-10 big man Paultz averaged a career double-double of 12.0 points per game and 10.1 rebounds in his two seasons. His last-second shot downed No. 2 Davidson in overtime in 1969, and his 389 rebounds during the 1969-70 season still rank as the seventh-best single-season effort in school history.

Bill Schaeffer, 1970-73

One of the best outside shooters in St. John's history, Schaeffer's career 56.0 field goal percentage still ranks fourth all-time, while his 1,484 career points and 622 rebounds lists him 12th and 27th in school history, respectively. His 24.7 points per game average during his senior season in 1973 is a record that still stands today.

Alan Seiden, 1956-59

A consensus All-American in 1959, Seiden was a team captain and key member of the squad that brought home the NIT Championship. Oftentimes mentioned with his backcourt-mate Gus Alfieri, Seiden provided a solid scoring punch and averaged more than 20 points per game in two different seasons. He totaled 1,374 points for his career, which ranks him tied for 18th all-time.

Mel Utley, 1972-75

A St. John's standout in the 1970s for Frank Mulzoff and Lou Carnesecca, Utley led the Redmen in assists his first season and in scoring the rest of his career. He finished his career with 1,243 points to rank 27th in the school record books, and is listed seventh all-time with 345 assists. Utley's teams made one NCAA appearance and two trips to the NIT, finishing fourth in 1975.

Solly Walker, 1951-54

The first African-American player to wear a St. John's uniform, Walker's freshman season ended with a trip to the NCAA title game under coach Frank McGuire. He led his squad in scoring (14.0 points per game) and rebounding (12.2 boards per game) as a senior in 1953-54, one year after helping the Redmen to an appearance in the 1953 NIT championship contest.

John Warren, 1966-69

A key contributor on both ends of the floor, Warren averaged 15.5 points per game and 7.1 rebounds across three seasons, while also contributing as his team's best defensive stopper. The Redmen made the NCAA Tournament three times during his career, including regional semifinal appearances in 1967 and 1969. During the 1968-69 season, he was integral in St. John's pair of victories over a No. 2 North Carolina squad, and then the next week's new No. 2 team, Davidson.

Bob Zawoluk, 1949-52

The first St. John's player to average more than 20 points per game during a single-season, Zawoluk was the "go to" scorer on Frank McGuire's 1952 NCAA finalist squad. More than 50 years later, his 1,826 career points still rank fourth in school history, and his 65 points in a single game against St. Peter's on March 3, 1950, has never been challenged.

"The Modern Era" - 1973-74 to 2006-07

Frank Alagia, 1972-76

Alagia was the floor leader for Frank Mulzoff and Lou Carnesecca, finishing his career with 478 assists, which ranked third all-time at the program's century mark. Alagia was one of two St. John's players to win the Francis Pomeroy Naismith Award as the National Player of the Year for those 6-0 and under. In his four-year career, Alagia led St. John's to an 83-30 record.

Ron Artest, 1997-99

In just two years wearing the St. John's "red and white," Artest compiled an impressive list of accolades. He was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie team following his freshman year and was a first team All-BIG EAST selection in his sophomore season. Following the 1998 NCAA Tournament, he declared for the NBA Draft, leaving St. John's 93 points shy of becoming a 1,000 point scorer.

Erik Barkley, 1998-00

An all-around solid player, Barkley was a member of the 2000 BIG EAST Championship squad. Barkley holds the single-season record for points scored in a season by a freshman with 500 in 1998-99, and is sixth all-time on the career steals list with 167.

Walter Berry, 1984-86

Berry, nicknamed "The Truth," played just two seasons at St. John's but his impact was incredible. Berry was the 1986 BIG EAST Player of the Year and John R. Wooden Award winner, citing him as the National Player of the Year. He totaled 1,424 career points in just two seasons, and was a key member of St. John's 1985 NCAA Final Four team and 1986 BIG EAST Tournament championship squad.

Reggie Carter, 1977-80

Carter played an important role in leading St. John's to the NCAA Elite Eight in 1979. He averaged 15.0 points per game and amassed 1,061 points in three seasons with St. John's, currently ranking 38th all-time. On Dec. 16, 1978, he set what was then the Alumni Hall scoring record with 39 points in a win over Brigham Young (Malik Sealy currently holds the Carnesecca Arena record with 43).

Anthony Glover, 1999-2003

Glover captained the Red Storm for three straight seasons and was part of St. John's 2000 BIG EAST Championship run as a freshman. With 1,434 career points, he is listed No. 13 on the all-time career scorers list, averaging 11.2 points over his four seasons. He ranks eighth in free throw attempts for his career and 10th in free throws made.

Zendon Hamilton, 1994-98

St. John's career record holder in free throw attempts with 912, Hamilton was part of head coach Brian Mahoney's highly touted recruiting class of '94 along with Felipe Lopez and Tarik Turner. He is ranked in the top five in several statistical categories, listed as the fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,810 points behind only Chris Mullin, Malik Sealy, Lopez and Bob Zawoluk. He is also fourth all-time in rebounding with 946 boards.

Greg "Boo" Harvey, 1987-89

Known as the master of the buzzer beater, Harvey won three games during the 1989-90 season on St. John's final possession. His 16.5 points per game that year helped St. John's to an impressive 24-10 record and a second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In two seasons under head coach Lou Carnesecca, Harvey averaged 14.4 points.

Marcus Hatten, 2001-03

The last St. John's player to earn the Haggerty Award, Hatten was a two-time first team All-BIG EAST selection. Already with a 29 point performance that lifted St. John's to a stunning come-from-behind upset of Duke, 72-71, at Madison Square Garden on March 2, 2003, he set a career-high with 44 points in a 75-59 win over Rutgers on March 6 of that year, marking the fourth-highest single game performance in St. John's history. Hatten finished his BIG EAST career averaging 23.0 points in 2003, bettering the league's all-time scoring record of 22.6, set by former Georgetown guard Allen Iverson.

Mark Jackson, 1983-87

St. John's all-time leader in assists with 738, "Action" Jackson was the floor general for the great mid-1980s teams under Lou Carnesecca. Jackson's honors ran the gamut of his collegiate career, going from the BIG EAST All-Rookie team as a freshman in 1984 to an honorable mention All-American and the conference's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 1987.

George Johnson, 1974-78

The massive and powerful Johnson is the greatest rebounder in St. John's history with 1,240 career boards. He also ranks sixth all-time with 1,763 career points, making him one of only two players in school history to score more than 1,000 points and pull down more than 1,000 rebounds. He averaged a career double-double, posting 15.1 points per game to go along with a 10.6 per game rebounding average.

Felipe Lopez, 1994-98

A highly touted and nationally recognized high school recruit, Lopez finished his St. John's career as the third all-time leading scorer with 1,927 points. The former McDonald's All American is remembered as one of the classiest players, on-and-off the court, to wear a St. John's uniform. Lopez's ranks second in career 3-point field goals made with 148, fifth in total field goals with 670 and seventh in free throws made (439).

Chris Mullin, 1981-85

The school's all-time scoring leader with 2,440 career points, Mullin is deservedly the most honored player to ever take the court at St. John's. The accolades for the Brooklyn-born Mullin, including the 1985 John R. Wooden Award naming him the national player of the year, and his BIG EAST Player of the Year citation in 1985, place him among the elite in college basketball history. Mullin led St. John's to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 1985 Final Four and a No. 1 national ranking.

Lavor Postell, 1996-00

Postell, the captain of the 2000 NCAA Tournament second round squad, ranks 16th on St. John's career scoring list with 1,427 points. An outstanding free throw shooter, he is listed eighth all-time with a .789 career percentage and also ranks eighth all-time with 92 career three-pointers. Postell led the Red Storm to the 2000 BIG EAST Tournament title in his final season, upsetting Connecticut at Madison Square Garden.

David Russell, 1979-83

Russell garnered many accolades in his four-year career with St. John's, beginning as the BIG EAST's first ever Rookie of the Year. In his sophomore and junior campaigns he was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press and took All-BIG EAST second team honors as a senior. Russell ranks seventh all-time in school history with 1,753 points and eighth with 832 rebounds.

Malik Sealy, 1988-92

Only the second player in school history to net more than 2,000 career points, Sealy totaled 2,402 and ranks second all-time. A 1992 consensus All-American, Sealy-led teams captured the 1989 NIT Championship and made three NCAA Tournament appearances under Lou Carnesecca. Sealy's name can be found many places in the St. John's record book, including at the top of the career field goals (900) and career steals (238) charts.

Marvis "Bootsy" Thornton, 1998-00

A 1,000-point scorer in just two seasons for the Red Storm, Thornton was a part of the 1999-2000 squad that won the BIG EAST Championship, and his 22 points against Connecticut in the championship game earned him tournament MVP honors. In 1999, Thornton burst into the national spotlight when he scored 40 points against second-ranked Duke at Madison Square Garden.

Bill Wennington, 1981-85

A prolific shot blocker throughout his four years, Wennington was an integral part of the Redmen's run to the Final Four in 1985. He is ranked second all-time in St. John's history with a .579 shooting percentage, and went on to win three NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls as part of a successful 13-season professional career.

Glen Williams, 1973-77

A four-year starter for St. John's, Williams ranks eighth on the all-time scoring list with 1,727 career points. His most prolific season came during his senior year in 1976-77, when he captained the squad to a 22-9 record, while scoring a then-record 665 points during the campaign. Williams currently ranks fourth in school history in field goals made with 712.

Jayson Williams, 1987-90

One of the premier big men in the NBA for 10 seasons, Williams' career at St. John's was a memorable one. He was a standout for three seasons under Lou Carnesecca and during his time in Queens he led the Redmen to two NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1989 NIT championship, where he was selected as the MVP. Williams' .549 career shooting percentage ranks seventh all-time in St. John's history.

- Red Storm -

NYC Metro Review Part 2: Teams 6-11

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:00:18 -0700

After the top five in the final rankings, there were a few schools that hovered around the .500 mark for most of the season, only to come out on the short end so to speak. But that doesn’t mean that this season was a complete failure for teams such as LIU, Fairfield and Yale. The Blackbirds finished dead even at 15-15, their first non-losing record 1997-98. Jim Ferry’s team, led by guard Jaytornah Wisseh and forward Eugene Kotorobai, will have to replace Kotorobai and Kellen Allen as they look to improve upon this season’s seventh-place finish in the Northeast Conference.

As for the Stags of Fairfield (14-16), head coach Ed Cooley will see key contributors such as Second-Team All-MAAC performer Jonathan Han and backcourt partner Herbie Allen back next season. Yale (13-15), who was expected by some to be more of a player in the Ivy League race (it ended up being everyone try to chase Cornell), has to replace a mainstay at guard in Eric Flato, along with swingman Caleb Holmes and big man Matt Kyle. But some key contributors will be back next season, led by forward Ross Morin.

Also in the group is a pair of Big East schools in St. John’s and Rutgers, and Fordham. Both Big East members were extremely young this season, but a year of seasoning along with some key recruits (especially Mike Rosario at Rutgers) should allow both to be in the top five next year. Fordham, on the other hand, can fall back one no such excuse as their season would have to be regarded as a disappointment. And that word may be kind. But before the ranking of those six teams, here are the members of the Second-Team All-Metro squad.

Second-Team All-Metro

G Manny Ubilla (Fairleigh Dickinson) - 20.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.9 apg, 42.9% 3PT

A member of the NEC’s Second Team All-Conference squad, Ubilla was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing year for Tom Green’s Knights. The senior from Freehold, N.J. failed to reach double figures just twice this season, and he also ranked second in the conference in three-point percentage. His best scoring effort this season was the thirty-nine he dropped on Rhode Island back on January 2^nd.

G Mark Porter (Wagner) - 16.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.9 spg

One of the keys to the success enjoyed by the Seahawks was the play of the senior guard from Atlantic City, also named First Team All Conference in the NEC. His 5.5 assists per game ranked behind only Robert Morris’ Tony Lee in the NEC, and he led a team with five players averaging double figures in points per game. The senior will definitely be missed on the Staten Island campus next season. Porter, who averaged thirty-seven minutes per game this season, had three games in which he reached double digits and assists and two double-doubles.

F John Baumann (Columbia) – 16.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 51.4% FG

The main cog in the Lions’ attack, Baumann was named to the Ivy League’s First Team All-Conference squad due to his efforts. Baumann, who leaves Columbia as the number six scorer in the history of the program, ranked second in the Ivy League in all three categories listed above and first in scoring in Ivy League games. For the second straight season Columbia finished at .500 in conference play, something that wouldn’t have been possible if not for the hard work of Baumann.

F Todd Sowell (St. Peter’s) – 12.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.2 bpg

To describe the senior forward from Brooklyn as a warrior would be appropriate, given the fact that he gave his all each and every night out on the floor for the Peacocks. Named to the MAAC’s Second Team All-Conference squad for his effort, Sowell averaged the second double-double of his career (he also did this as a sophomore). They may not have won many games, but the Peacocks may have done even worse than their six wins if not for Todd Sowell. He’ll definitely be missed in Jersey City.

F Durell Vinson (Wagner) – 13.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 55.8% FG

Vinson, like Mark Porter (they’ve been teammates in both high school and college), was named to the Northeast Conference’s First Team All-Conference squad and was the difference-maker this season for Mike Deane’s Seahawks. Last season Wagner sputtered without the services of their most dependable big, but this year they finished in second place in the NEC. How dominant was Vinson on the glass this season? His average was tops in the NEC by four rebounds per game.

Final Rankings 6-11

6. Fairfield (14-16)

The Stags, after getting off to a slow start for the second consecutive season, were able to fight their way back into the thick of the MAAC regular season race by season’s end. Alas, they fell short of the top spot and ended up finishing in fifth place, losing to Loyola (MD) in a close MAAC quarterfinal. While they do lose seniors such as Marty O’Sullivan and Mamadou Diakhate, the bulk of this team will be back in forwards Greg Nero and Anthony Johnson, and guard Jonathan Han and Herbie Allen. They’ve got a shot to make some noise in the MAAC next season.

7. Fordham (11-17)

Heading into the season, you would have thought that the Rams would have a better shot at finishing 17-11 instead of 11-17. But even with five senior starters returning, they found a way to plummet from the preseason prognostication of fifth in the Atlantic 10 to twelfth, barely qualifying for the conference tournament. Bryant Dunston once again did the job inside, and as a team Dereck Whittenburg’s squad did improve offensively. But they weren’t consistent enough on defense, or when it came to taking care of the basketball. It’ll be interesting to see what this team can do next year with a recruiting class led by guard Jio Fontan arriving on campus.

8. St. John’s (11-19)

The Red Storm certainly went through their share of growing pains, hitting rock bottom in the blowout loss to Georgetown in the Garden, a place in which the two charter members of the Big East have staged many memorable battles. The 74-42 was one for the books as well, and not for good reasons either. The only key contributor who won’t be back is senior guard Eugene Lawrence, which should mean that Norm Roberts’ team is ready to make a move up the Big East standings. Forwards Anthony Mason Jr. and Justin Burrell will be the headliners in 2008-09.

9. Long Island (15-15)

The Blackbirds head into the off-season with optimistic thoughts following their best season in ten years, along with the fact that a few of the key contributors are slated to return. Guard Jaytornah Wisseh was one of the NEC’s best by season’s end, and he’ll be back along with two members of the league’s All-Rookie Team in guards David Hicks and Kyle Johnson. Pairing those two with Wisseh will make the Blackbirds quite dangerous in 2008-09.

10. Yale (13-15)

The Bulldogs finished .500 in conference play, the eighth straight season in which they’ve completed Ivy League play with at least seven league wins. And in another dose of good fortune, they’ll return a pair of Second Team All-Conference Team members in forwards Travis Pinick and Ross Morin. Both led the conference in a statistical category (in Ivy League games), with Pinick averaging 8.9 rebounds per game and Morin shooting 64.2% from the field. But unfortunately for head coach James Jones, he’ll have to replace a quartet of seniors led by team captain Eric Flato.

11. Rutgers (11-20)

It was a tough way for the young Scarlet Knights to learn what playing in the Big East is all about, but they should all be back next season and they head into 2008-09 on a positive note. JR Inman hit a shot at the buzzer to defeat bitter rival Seton Hall in the season finale, and with McDonald’s All-American Mike Rosario on his way Fred Hill should have a pretty good team in 2008-09. Freshmen Corey Chandler and Mike Coburn were two of the team’s top four scorers, and Hamady N’Diaye got even more experience inside. Not sure just how far they can move up the Big East standings next season, but look out for these guys.

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part One

All-Metro Team & Ranking 1-5

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Two

Ranking 6-11

Next: NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Three

Ranking 12-1

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Four

All-Rookie & Ranking 18-23

Daily Dribble: Thursday Report Card

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:24:36 -0800

The Report Card

A new series, the Daily Report Card tells you all you need to know about the day in college hoops. From good to bad and bad to worse, I'll be laying down the law.

A - Kansas State

I didn't see a minute of their win over Kansas. I only read the first line or so of the recap.. barely looked at the box, and will only see some highlights later on SportsCenter. But it's no matter.. you top the unbeaten, 2nd ranked team in the country.. you top the Report Card.

B - Cincinnati

It still amazes me that Cincy is over .500 in Big East play. But what I love more about their win over West Virginia is that not only did Bob Huggins get destroyed by his former team.. and not only did Huggins team shoot 20% from the field.. but Huggins other former team, Kansas State, reached its greatest glory on a day that Huggins was embarrassed.

C - MVC

Though at most schools the average GPA hovers around B, it represents the average in my Daily Report Card. Nothing says average better than a .500 team, which the Valley is full of. After Creighton lost to Drake, 4 teams are .500 in league play including Northern Iowa, Bradley, and Indiana State. Also, both Missouri State and Southern Illinois are within a game of .500. All in all, its been nothing but mediocrity out of the league

D - Alexis Wangmene

I barely had a chance to watch any of the games last night.. basically 2 minutes of Texas A&M's upset win over Texas. And in that two minute span, Wangmene through an elbow at DeAndre Jordan's head and rightfully got thrown out of the game. So simply put, he gets a D.

F - St. John's

Its been ugly at St. John's for a few years now, so the 1-7 conference and 7-12 overall record are nothing surprising. I won't bore you with old history about Mike Jarvis and suspensions and forfeits and strip clubs and probation.. the point is that things got bad, and barely seem to be getting better. Yes, Norm Roberts' roster is full of youth.. so there's some hope. But with Rutgers and Seton Hall doing a better job bringing in recruits, there's little reason to think anything but mediocrity is attainable in the next few years.

Previous Best / Worst

January 29th - Winthrop / Dyson & Wiggins

January 28th - Rutgers / Doris Burke

January 25th - Ron Hunter / Princeton Offense

January 23rd - Kentucky / Archbishop Burke

January 22nd - DJ Augustin / Scott Sutton

January 21st - New York Giants / Marquette

January 20th - Maryland / ESPN.com editors

January 18th - Cleveland State / Marquette

January 17th - Drake / HP Laptops

January 14th - Roy Hibbert / Michigan State

January 10th - Tony Bennett / Saint Louis

January 9th - DJ White / CSTV

January 8th - Robert Morris / Schedule Makers

January 7th - Wayne Ellington / Illinois

January 6th - Herb Sendek / Kentucky

UCONN Blows Out St. John's

Press Release — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:40:36 -0800

STORRS, Conn. (Jan. 8, 2008) – A.J. Price scored a career-high 25 points and Jerome Dyson tied a team record with nine steals as Connecticut beat St. John's 81-65 Tuesday in the Huskies' Big East home opener.

Jeff Adrien had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Stanley Robinson added 15 points and eight boards for Connecticut (11-3, 2-1 Big East). Dyson finished with 12 points.

Price hit all four of his 3-point shots, dished out seven assists and grabbed four rebounds.

Freshman Justin Burrell led St. John's (7-7, 1-2) with 17 points and also grabbed six rebounds. Anthony Mason Jr. added 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds while also dishing out four assists and grabbing three steals.

Also for St. John’s, freshman Malik Boothe dished out a career high seven assists and also had a career high three steals in just 16 minutes off the bench. Larry Wright, meanwhile, connected on three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.

-- Red Storm Media --

NYC Metro Preview: #12 St. John's

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:30:48 -0800

12. St. John’s (2006-07 Record: 16-15, 7-9 Big East)

Head coach: Norm Roberts

Returning Starters: G Eugene Lawrence (senior): 6-1, 225; F Anthony Mason Jr. (junior): 6-7, 207.

Replacing a first-team All-Big East player such as forward Lamont Hamilton is a tough task for any team. But when the one youngster you were hoping to step into a major role up front decides to transfer, then you have problems. That’s the case with St. John’s, who has to find a way to replace not only Hamilton but the promising Qa’rraan Calhoun as well. Calhoun, although he only averaged 5.9 ppg and 4.0 rpg, was a promising talent who could have helped ease the pain of losing Hamilton. Instead, a seven-member class of newcomers will be needed to add depth to this suddenly young team.

Other than Lawrence, the only other returning backcourt player with credible experience is senior Larry Wright (4.0 ppg, 43 % 3PT), and he only played thirteen minutes per game last season. Wright will have to give the Red Storm some scoring punch from the perimeter this season. Four newcomers will look to grab minutes from the start, and given the amount of time available there shouldn’t be a problem with at least one of them doing just that. Point guard Malik Boothe (Rosedale, NY) may only stand at 5-9, but he is a speedster with the basketball who can make things happen. Also coming into the fold are D.J. Kennedy (Pittsburgh, PA), Mike Cavataio (Forest Hills, NY) and Paris Horne (Middletown, DE). Of the three, Kennedy stands to be the one best able to step into an important role right away, but all three will be needed to provide some perimeter help this season.

Returning in the frontcourt with Mason Jr. is senior Tomas Jasiulionis (2.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg), a big man with size who’s counted on for defense and simply banging in the paint more than anything else. Jasiulionis has never had an issue with the effort he gives on the floor, but don’t look for the scoring average to jump up too much. The frontcourt newcomers have been the focus of excitement during the off-season, with freshmen Justin Burrell (Bronx, NY), Dele Coker (Newburgh, NY) and Sean Evans (Philadelphia, PA) all having the opportunity to move into the starting lineup.

At Bridgton Academy last season, the 6-8 Burrell went for 23, 11 and four blocks per game. Coker isn’t as developed offensively as Burrell or Evans (22 ppg his senior year), but he did average three blocks per game at South Kent Prep. The wildcard up front is redshirt freshman Rob Thomas, a talented 6-6 forward who has to sit out until 2008. If he’s taken care of business off the court and his surgically repaired knee is in good form, Thomas can add another dimension to the Red Storm attack.

In regards to the schedule, the Red Storm will open up with four home games against colleges also in the New York metropolitan area: St. Francis (NY), Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson and Long Island. Also on the non-conference slate is an appearance in the Rainbow Classic, opening up against Ohio on December 19th (also taking part are Hawaii, Louisiana-Lafayette, East Tennessee State, Georgia, St. Mary’s and Tulane). They will also play in the Aeropostale Holiday Festival, playing defending Holiday Classic champion Hofstra in the opener, then facing either Marist or Virginia Tech the following night. Other non-conference games of note include trips to Miami (December 2^nd) and Duke (February 23^rd). And we all know how tough that Big East schedule is.

2007-08 Prospects

Hate to say it, but a good season for this team may indeed be one that ends in the Postseason NIT. Besides Mason Jr. (and on occasion Lawrence), there just isn’t enough proven (at the college level, at least) scoring punch. This team could end up being a lot like the 2004-05 edition that had Daryll Hill and Lamont Hamilton as sophomores, but little scoring punch behind them. But as that eventual 9-18 outfit found out, it’s better to have an even distribution of the scoring load as opposed to two players firing at will. If the newcomers can step into new roles and thrive, then they could end up being better than many expect. But if not, the Red Storm could have a tough time qualifying for the Big East Championship.

Complete NYC Metro Preview & Ranking

Miami Puts Away St. John's

Press Release — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:45:03 -0800

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Justin Burrell and D.J. Kennedy each tallied ten points for the Red Storm, but the Miami Hurricanes held off St. John’s 66-47. St. John’s is now 4-1 on the season, while the Hurricanes remain unbeaten at 7-0.

Down 29-19 with 5:23 to go in the first, St. John’s used a 10-0 run to finish out the half and went into halftime tied at 29-29. Burrell tallied six points during the rally as he made four free throws and also added a jumper right before the buzzer.

A Kennedy 3-pointer gave the Red Storm a 32-31 lead just moments into the second half, but the Hurricanes would respond and later use a 10-0 run to take a 52-38 lead. After St. John’s cut got to within nine points at 52-43, the Hurricanes used another 10-0 spurt to go up 62-43.

For the Red Storm, Eugene Lawrence dished out a game high six assists on the night and also added eight points and six boards. Starting for the fourth time this season, Tomas Jasiulionis tied a career-high with seven boards.

St. John’s shot 18-of-60 from the floor (30.0%), but only earned 13 trips to the free throw line. Miami, meanwhile, benefited from 25 trips to the charity stripe and converted on 20-of-25 of those attempts.

-- Red Storm Media --

Qa'rraan Calhoun Leaving St. John's

Press Release — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:29:11 -0700

QUEENS, N.Y. (August 20, 2007) – St. John’s head men’s basketball coach Norm Roberts announced that rising sophomore forward Qa’rraan Calhoun (Hazlet, N.J.) has withdrawn from the University and plans to transfer to another institution for the 2007-08 season.

“Qa’rraan and his family have made the decision for him to transfer,” said Roberts. “He leaves the team in good academic standing, and we wish him the best of luck with his decision.”

“This has been a difficult decision to make,” said Calhoun. “But I feel it is what is best for me and my family right now. I want to thank Coach Roberts and the coaching staff for the opportunities they gave me here at St. John’s, and my teammates as well.”

Calhoun played in all 31 of St. John’s games in 2006-07 as a freshman, and drew 10 starts, averaging 5.9 points per game and 4.0 rebounds in 22.5 minutes.

2007-08 St John's Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 09:10:39 -0700

St. John’s Red Storm

Overall Rank: #131

Conference Rank: #14 Big East

2006-07: 16-15, 7-9, 11^th

2006-07 postseason: none

St. John’s was not supposed to be good last year, but they sure had a lot more potential than a 16-15 overall record. But it did not happen and this year’s team has just as many questions. Eugene Lawrence is a decent point guard, but there needs to be some improvement for him to reach the level of a Big East point guard. The rest of the backcourt is no better, in fact it is worse. Larry Wright, who only averaged 4.0 points per game, is the best returning option at shooting guard. Wright has a smooth shot and could develop into a solid contributor this year now that he will get the chance to make an impact.

Who’s Out:

Guards Avery Patterson and Ricky Torres have opted to transfer. Patterson averaged 10.4 points per game and was by far the best long range shooter on the team. Torres averaged 2.3 points in limited playing time. Daryll Hill was a solid scorer when he was healthy, but unfortunately that was rarely the case. Little used Devin Mayo and Adam Laitsas have run out of eligibility. Lamont Hamilton led the team with 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds and his absence will force the frontcourt to take a step back. Aaron Spears, who earned 11 starts as a senior, was a solid big man coming mostly off the bench.

Who’s In:

The Red Storm will need quite a few of the incoming freshmen to not act like freshmen. The most important may be point guard Malik Boothe. A talent upgrade at the position is a necessity if St. John’s hopes for a postseason berth. The 5-7 Boothe is quick and tough and will immediately put himself into a position of leadership. His hustle will make up for his size and with a little consistency on the jumper Boothe could be very productive this season. Shooting guard Paris Horne will attack the basket and play above the rim and it would be very beneficial if he can find some quality minutes off the bench. Small forwards D.J. Kennedy and Mike Cavataio will battle for minutes. Kennedy has the most potential and, in spurts, can be a big-time scorer. The most talent is up front. Power forwards Justin Burrell and Sean Evans and center Dele Coker will be a quality Big East frontcourt in a few years. Burrell is a great athlete and the best player in this class, but needs to develop an offensive game in the paint or on the perimeter. Coker, at 6-10 and 245 pounds, is a presence under the basket. He is tough and strong and once the offensive game catches up to his defense, Coker will be good.

Who to Watch:

With Anthony Mason, Jr. at small forward and Qa’rraan Calhoun under the basket, St. John’s is developing a potent frontcourt. Mason will likely be the team’s leading scorer after averaging 11.9 points per game last year. The 6-7 junior can do a little bit of everything and will hit the glass hard and is the best returning shooter from long range and the charity stripe. Mason will have to carry this team and he has enough skills to do so. Calhoun spent his freshman campaign learning the ropes and is expected to start living up to his potential starting in 2007-2008. His 5.1 points and 4.0 rebounds are just scratching the surface and the super athlete is ready to join Mason as on of the best forward duos in the conference.

Final Projection:

The backcourt is a big problem. Lawrence did average 5.6 assists per game and may be getting a bad rap as the team leader of a group that underachieved, but even getting a little help from Boothe would be helpful. The building process is going well with a quality group of incoming freshmen, but the lack of experience will hamper any hopes of a postseason for at least a couple more years.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Eugene Lawrence, Senior, Guard, 7.2 points per game

Larry Wright, Sophomore, Guard, 4.0 points per game

Anthony Mason, Junior, Forward, 11.9 points per game

Qa’rraan Calhoun, Sophomore, Forward, 5.9 points per game

Justin Burrell, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2007-08 Preview | Discuss the Preview