This topic contains 5 replies, has 5 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar JNixon 12 years, 6 months ago.

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  • #33030
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    providencefriars1
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    This is a huge blow for the Johnnies for the first half. Even playing against the cupcakes, all the freshman and newcomers need to build a repore and this certaintly will hinder it for these three players. Written by Kieran Darcy of ESPN NewYork

    http://espn.go.com/new-york/ncb/story/_/id/6974420/st-john-3-players-ruled-ineligible-fall-semester

     

    NEW YORK — A month before practice begins, St. John’s was dealt a significant blow to their 2011-12 men’s basketball season Thursday, when three members of its much-ballyhooed incoming class were declared ineligible for at least the fall semester.

    Jakarr Sampson, Norvel Pelle and Amir Garrett — all three among the top 100 players in the nation in their high school class, according to ESPNU’s rankings — will not be able to suit up for the Red Storm this fall, after failing to qualify academically.

     

    "We will continue to work with the NCAA in an effort to review Amir, Norvel and Jakarr’s cases regarding their eligibility," said St. John’s coach Steve Lavin in a statement. "Our student-athletes and their families have been patient and cooperative throughout this review process. We are hopeful that Amir, Norvel and Jakarr will be able to join us on the court this winter, and in the classroom when the 2012 spring semester begins."

    The freshman trio will miss at least the first 10 games of the season. If any or all of them are able to qualify for the spring semester, they can practice beginning on Dec. 19, and play starting with St. John’s home game versus Texas-Pan American on Dec. 21.

    "The NCAA Eligibility Center informed us this afternoon that after a review, these three PSAs (prospective student-athletes) cannot qualify at this time," said St. John’s athletic director Chris Monasch. "The university has been proactive and diligent in assisting in the reviews for each of our incoming men’s basketball student-athletes. We will continue to review what avenues the student-athletes may have to achieve their initial eligibility."

    St. John’s already faced a tall order this season, returning just one player who saw significant playing time a year ago, junior reserve guard Malik Stith. But Lavin reeled in the No. 3 recruiting class in the country, according to ESPNU — behind only Kentucky and Duke. That class was comprised of nine players, six of whom were ranked in the ESPNU 100.

    But now Sampson (a 6-foot-7, 190-pound small forward), Pelle (a 6-foot-10, 200-pound power forward) and Garrett (a 6-foot-6, 190-pound small forward) will not be available, at least at the start. Sampson was the No. 32 ranked player in the country coming out of high school, while Pelle was ranked No. 77 and Garrett No. 99.

    Even if these three players become eligible in the spring, they will have missed the opportunity to gain valuable experience and develop chemistry with their teammates in the first portion of the season. St. John’s will be relying almost entirely on newcomers, and faces one of the more daunting schedules in the country. Besides its 18-game Big East slate, the Red Storm will play at Kentucky, at Duke, and host both Arizona and UCLA. The Arizona and Kentucky matchups occur during the first semester, and St. John’s will have a very short bench for its first 10 games.

    The three players could also elect to leave St. John’s entirely. Garrett, for instance, is also a top baseball prospect, and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball draft in June. Garrett, who received a $1 million signing bonus from the Reds, was going to play basketball for St. John’s in the fall and spring, and play minor league baseball for the Reds in the summer. But his plans could change now.

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  • #600120
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    WizardofOz
    Participant

     How many scholly’s does St John’s have available anyway?

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  • #600121
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    providencefriars1
    Participant

    Including these three, St Johns signed 8 for this year.

    In order of their ranking of ESPN.com recruiting

    Dom Pointer SF

    Jakarr Sampson SF

    Maurice Harkless SF

    D’Angelo Harrison SG

    Norvel Pelle PF

    Amir Garrett SF

    Phillip Greene SG

    Nurideen Lindsey PG

    Gods Gift Achiuwa C

    This was a top 3 recruting class on most or all sites.

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    • #600139
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      bdiddy5115
      Participant

      Harrison will be the leader/star of this squad.

      Pelle, though very raw, will hurt – as SJ is short on bigs. Achiwa is going to have to play big, and smart (staying out of foul trouble).

      Losing Sampson hurts, as he would’ve played some 4, but he’s naturally a 3 anyways. Garrett is a 2/3. And they seem to be strong enough at those positions to handle their losses with Pointer and Harkless at SF and Harrison and Greene at SG.

      It will definitely suck for SJ, but if they can get their eligibility for Spring, they’ll be ok. Its far from the end of the world. This year was a "growth year" anyways. And the eligible freshman will get to grow even more now – with the increased load now on their shoulders.

       

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  • #600173
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    hiphopismylife
    Participant

    I always catch myself wondering how it’ll all play out when a school loads up at one position like St. John’s did at SF this year. Keep forgetting that these types of things are a major obstacle for a lot of players. Really hope they get cleared because I really want to see this group together.

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  • #600195
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    JNixon
    Participant

     Gods Gift Achiuwa. Amazing name. Best I’ve ever seen probably lol

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