Steve Lavin ready for next season
Head coach Steve Lavin of the St. John's Red Storm reacts against the Texas A&M Aggies during the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at Madison Square Garden. (Nov. 18, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
With last season quickly fading into the rear-view mirror, St. John’s coach Steve Lavin is ready to hit the ground running for the 2012-2013 season.
Lavin announced the addition of six recruits for next season. Shooting guard Felix Balamou out of Our Savior New American by way of West Africa, Monroe College point guard Marco Bourgault, Texas A&M transfer Jamal Branch, Harvard transfer Max Hooper, forward JaKarr Sampson and JUCO forward Orlando Sanchez.
“The 2011 recruiting class provided a strong foundation for us to build upon,” said Lavin. “The arrival of the 2012 class will add depth, size, firepower and some complementary players that will fit nicely into our system of play. This class continues to move our program forward and will assist in making St. John’s competitive on an annual basis. We are pleased that our recruiting efforts over these two years have yielded a strong collective group.”
Playing with a shorthanded roster, the Red Storm finished the 2011-2012 season 13-19. St. John’s returns all but one of its rotation players from that squad, including sophomores D’Angelo Harrison, SirDominic Pointer, Phil Greene and Amir Garrett.
The Red Storm also returns power forward God’sgift Achiuwa.
All-Met first-team selection and Big East rookie of the year Moe Harkless declared himself for the NBA draft.
