[NYFinest12Participant]

Seeing all of these on the site I decided to do my own on my favorite college basketball team. I am really excited for St. John’s basketball in the 2013-2014 season with alot of players returning and alot of newcomers next year I think it was be a great season for my Jhonnies.

Last season was one filled with ups and downs as we all know. I was expecting them to rebuildafter the loss of Moe Harkless to the NBA but they actually played alot of teams tough and manged to ride on the last 4 in last four out for a majority of the season. Some big wins included a win at Cincinnati and a Win vs Notre Dame which where all tournament teams. Some bad losses where UNC Ashville and SF. Despite this we still got into the NIT and won a game before being bounced by Virginia.

Even with all the dissapointment and success there can be more to look forward to in the 2013-2014 season. The only players this team loses is Jamal White who was a seldom used player who fans didnt even know was on the team. They also lose Amir Garret who decided to transfer to be closer to home and focus on his baseball career he put in averages of 5.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG off the bench his engery will be missed but I still think he can move on without both of these players. Despite these loses we gain a couple players like highly recruited freshmen G Rysheed Jordan from Philly who I think will be given the keys to this team to start and coach Lavin will see where to go from there. F Orlando Sanchez who was called a NBA talent by many people he finally gains elgibility to play from the NCAA but only for one year. We also get G/F Max Hooper who is a lights out shooter who transfered in from Harvard I suggest you watch his video on Youtube just to see how lights out he is. God’sgift Achiuwa also returns after taking a red-shirt year. During the 2011-2012 season he averaged 9.4 PPG and 5.8 RPG. With all these newcomers and returness im excited for the season to start for St. John’s.

I think think the Depth chart will play out like this

PG: Rysheed Jordan, Jamal Branch,Phill Greene
SG: D’Angelo Harrison, Felix Balamou, Phill Greene
SF: JaKarr Sampson, Sir Dominic Pointer, Max Hooper,Marc-Antoine Bourgault
PF: Orlando Sanchez, Godsgift Achiuwa,Christian Jones
C: Chris Obekpa, Orlando Sanchez, Godsgift Achiuwa

With all this talent coming in i expect Lavin to use alot of his bench and to go deep in the bench for some games and here is a in depth look at each of the projected starters.

PG: Rysheed Jordan FR: Rysheed Jordan stands at 6’4 and a strong 190 pounds so he is tall PG in the college game and a little above average if your talking about the pro’s. From the videos ive seen of him he is a very good ball handler with a great breakdown ability to get into the lane, or stop and pull up for a nice midrange jumper. His range isnt that great at this stage but if he can develop his 3 ball watch out BIg East. Where I really see his potential is on the Defensive end where he terrorizes his matchup with him being 6’4 and a big 190 and a wingspan i think in 6’8 area he causes alot of mayhem on the court doesnt really gamble alot but has the ability to stay with someone and just be able to read every move you can make.

SG: D’Abgelo Harrison JR: D’Angelo Harrison is known for being suspended late in the year for unknown reasons but I heard multiple conflicts with coaches and sometimes teamates they decided to sit him down for the later part of the season. When he is playing though this kid is as inconsistant as they come. When hes on he on but when hes off hes ice cold ala New Yorks Favorite knucklehead J.R. Smith. He has those 3 levels to his game where he can shoot the 3, Pull from midrange, and get to the hoop. He also draws a highly amount of fouls despite his undersized 6’3 body but his weight i guess makes up for it at a lil bit husky 215. Where D’Angelo needs to inprove is defensively where he barley ever looks like hes giving a effort to even try. Offensively he will stay on the floor. Could be one of the leading scorers in his conference this year.

SF: JaKarr Sampson SO: JaKarr Sampson is somebody who many think has a NBA future. Prototype NBA body standing at 6’8 and weighing in at 205 looks to have a wingspan of 7’0 or more. He had a regular Freshmen expectation season with its ups and downs. Was the best freshmen in the BIg East evident by him winning rookie of the year in the conference. He lead all freshmen in the Big East in scoring and rebounding. I expect JaKarr to take the next step in his development and develop a 3 point shot because as of now he has no range. He can make the midrange jumper though and is very athletic in every way of the word.

PF: Orlando Sanchez SR: Orlando Sanchez is a player who gained eligibility for only one season but watching his game im excited to see what he can bring to the program. Standing 6’9 and 220 he has nice size for a PF. He can play above the rim and run the floor really well for his size. He will throw down some very nice and unexpected dunks from time to time. Is very quick and aglile for his size and very coordinated.Can post up even though its not the stong part of his game he can do it with very basic hooks and turnaround jumpers.

C: Chris Obekpa SO: Obekpa was the leading shot blocker in the country!!! as freshmen thats a achievement he crushed every shot blocking record in St. John’s hsitory and BIg East freshmen history. He has a talent for just playing defense. He only stands at 6’9 but his wingspan has been measured at 7’4. I think he can block more shots this year because once he learn how to not foul when going up for blocks and falling on pump fakes his block totals will go up which is scary. Offensively Obekpa doesnt give you much really cant post up can get put backs and easy dunks and layups. He is a pretty good passer as a big though and he can soemtimes rebound at a high level when he wants to.

Key Reserves

Sir Dominic Pointer JR SG/SF: Sir Dominic Pointer is a 6’5 200 Pound Swiss Army Knife he can do everything on the floor not great but okay. Need him to rebound he can do that need him to play point he can do that need him to score he can do that need him to lockdown the teams best play he can do that you guys get the point. Hes so versatile in what he can do. He averaged 6.9 PPG 2.8 APG and 5.5 RRP which shows the type of verastiltiy he has and he only played about 25 MPG so if thats increased I would like to see what he can do.

Jamal Branch JR PG: Branch is a heady PG who is always looking to make his teamates better before he takes a shot hes kinda unselfish to a fault sometimes he needs to take his shot instead of giving it up to a teamate. He was a top 100 recruit coming out of high school. Branch can make midrange jumpshots but his range doesnt go out beyond that. Defensively he plays very smart and know team defense and will occasionaly jump into passing lanes and get a steal.

Phil Greene JR G: Phill Greene is just a scorer who can put the ball in the hoops. He has enough basketball savy and court awareness to sometimes play the 1. Where he makes his calling is putting the ball in the hoop. Hes not a effecient scorer but in a off the bench role opposed to a starting one I think is better suited for his game.

GodsGift Achiuwa SR F: Achiuwa is just a big man standing 6’8 240 he is a player who loves to bang and doesnt mind contact. He will always play strong and with a high energy and motor. You wont ever have to gas him up like some players. on O Achiuwa can post up just using his body and bang with you. When he misses a shot he is always getting it back and putting it back up even if he misses a few times you bet he will get the rebound and is going back up strong to get his point no matter how many tries it takes.

With all these additions and returnees the 2013-2014 season for St. John’s will be a good one. This team was one of the youngest in the country last year but this year I expect them to grow up and work on their games to come back to make the NCAA Tournament. I really dont see much weakness in this team except with all these newcomers and they may take a while to gel together and play as a team. As predictions go I think a top 5 finish in there conference isnt out of the questtion and and 8-10 seed in the tournament sounds about right.

[bdiddy5115Participant]

Nice job. I follow SJ as well, as I went to school with Harrison’s older brother back in the day.

I think that it’s unlikely that Sampson-Sanchez-Obekpa all start together, as Sampson’s perimeter game is not developed enough to run that lineup for long stretches. I expect to see Pointer and Sampson manning the F spots, with Sanchez/Obekpa battling it out for the starting C bid. Sanchez and Obekpa could see some time together, and Sanchez’s inside scoring ability will be a great addition to a team desperately needing it for the past few years. Obekpa is an asset for his rare shot-blocking ability, but the rest of his game was incredibly raw last year, so I’m not sure how much his MPG can increase.

In some ways, this team may actually be too deep (which sounds strange to say, considering how sparse the roster was just 2 years ago). Guys who have played meaningful minutes such as Greene and Achiuwa may find themselves outside of the rotation, and promising developmental guys like Balamou, Jones and Bourgault will likely find themselves on the bench.

Jordan has nice size and scoring instincts, so I expect him to play some PG (next to Harrison) and some SG (next to Branch). Having Branch’s steady hand for the full-season will be big for the team as well. I’m hoping Harrison returns with some newfound maturity. Either way, having him gives the team a cold-blooded go-to scorer that they would’ve lacked otherwise. He has struggled in the past when tougher teams keyed on him, as he lacks the physical tools to deal with suffocating defenses…in that sense, I think he’ll benefit greatly from Jordan’s presence, as having another legitimate shot-creator will open up lots of space for him. Hopefully his shot-selection improves significantly.

For the rotation, I expect to see something like this:

Starters:
PG/SG Jordan
SG Harrison
SF Pointer
SF/PF Sampson
PF Sanchez

Key Backups:
C Obekpa
PG Branch

1-2 of the following will get in the rotation:
PG/SG Greene
SG/SF Bourgault
PF/C Achiuwa

Unlikely to get PT:
PF Jones
SG Balamou
SF Hooper

[bdiddy5115Participant]

Nice job. I follow SJ as well, as I went to school with Harrison’s older brother back in the day.

I think that it’s unlikely that Sampson-Sanchez-Obekpa all start together, as Sampson’s perimeter game is not developed enough to run that lineup for long stretches. I expect to see Pointer and Sampson manning the F spots, with Sanchez/Obekpa battling it out for the starting C bid. Sanchez and Obekpa could see some time together, and Sanchez’s inside scoring ability will be a great addition to a team desperately needing it for the past few years. Obekpa is an asset for his rare shot-blocking ability, but the rest of his game was incredibly raw last year, so I’m not sure how much his MPG can increase.

In some ways, this team may actually be too deep (which sounds strange to say, considering how sparse the roster was just 2 years ago). Guys who have played meaningful minutes such as Greene and Achiuwa may find themselves outside of the rotation, and promising developmental guys like Balamou, Jones and Bourgault will likely find themselves on the bench.

Jordan has nice size and scoring instincts, so I expect him to play some PG (next to Harrison) and some SG (next to Branch). Having Branch’s steady hand for the full-season will be big for the team as well. I’m hoping Harrison returns with some newfound maturity. Either way, having him gives the team a cold-blooded go-to scorer that they would’ve lacked otherwise. He has struggled in the past when tougher teams keyed on him, as he lacks the physical tools to deal with suffocating defenses…in that sense, I think he’ll benefit greatly from Jordan’s presence, as having another legitimate shot-creator will open up lots of space for him. Hopefully his shot-selection improves significantly.

For the rotation, I expect to see something like this:

Starters:
PG/SG Jordan
SG Harrison
SF Pointer
SF/PF Sampson
PF Sanchez

Key Backups:
C Obekpa
PG Branch

1-2 of the following will get in the rotation:
PG/SG Greene
SG/SF Bourgault
PF/C Achiuwa

Unlikely to get PT:
PF Jones
SG Balamou
SF Hooper

[NYFinest12Participant]

I agree with everything you’re saying but I’ve heard JaKarr has developed into a respectable shooter since the season ended and where not even close to the season being started. you just have to hope everybody improves during the summer

[NYFinest12Participant]

I agree with everything you’re saying but I’ve heard JaKarr has developed into a respectable shooter since the season ended and where not even close to the season being started. you just have to hope everybody improves during the summer

[PortlandTrailblazers21Participant]

I think. God’sgift Achiuwa should start over Orlando Sanchez

[PortlandTrailblazers21Participant]

I think. God’sgift Achiuwa should start over Orlando Sanchez

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