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#138 St. John’s Red
Storm
Big East
2004-05: 9-18,
3-13, 11th
2004-05 postseason:
none
By
Joel Welser
Three wins in the
conference doesn’t help the psyche for St. John’s, but it is an
improvement on the one conference win the previous season.
Things are looking better for Norm Roberts and his Red Storm.
With the recruiting looking more like the glory days of SJU, the
Red Storm will be shooting for an NCAA bid in a few years. For
2005-2006, looking to the NIT is a more obtainable goal.
Who’s Out:
Little used Mohamed Diakate and Tyler Jones are the only losses.
Diakate played in 14 games and never put up a point. Jones saw a
few more minutes but mostly in mop up roles.
Who’s In:
Anthony Mason Jr.’s lean, long 6-7,
200 pound frame should fill in nicely for a team that could use
a wing threat. He has a nice outside shot and should be starting
before too long. Shooting guard Ricky Torres will be competing
for a starting spot as well. The 6-4, 180 pound Bronx native has
solid range and can get it done on the offensive end. Incoming
freshman Tomas Jasiulionis and Aaron Spears, a transfer from
Illinois via Highland-Illinois Junior College, will add some
much needed depth to the frontcourt. Jermaine Maybank may make
the biggest difference of any of the newcomers. Maybank injured
his knee just prior to last season and was forced to sit out
after surgery. The 6-5 junior shooting guard will compete for a
starting job. In 2003-2004 at Independence (KS) Junior College,
Maybank averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Who to Watch:
While Darryl Hill is the star of
the team, the play of Lamont Hamilton is key. Hill, a 5-11
guard, averaged 20.7 points per game last year and will likely
hover around those numbers for his senior season as well.
Hamilton has to become a threat inside to compliment Hill.
Hamilton averaged 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds as a sophomore in
2004-2005. Without many other options under the basket, the 6-9,
242 pound Brooklyn product was forced to do everything. It will
be easier this time around with the big newcomers providing some
help off the bench. Hamilton is an efficient shooter at 50.4%
from the floor, but he’s a big liability at the freethrow line.
Projected
Conference Rank:
Is the Big East really so good that
the 15th place team is realistically aiming for a spot at the
NIT? Nope. St. John’s had some problems getting all the
newcomers together last year. They have quite a few newcomers to
fit into the system this season as well. If Norm Roberts can
bring them all together this year, SJU will do much better than
15th in the conference. It didn’t work last year though, but the
talent is there for the Red Storm to surprise many in Big East
country.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
none
Projected Starting
Five:
Darryl Hill, Senior,
Guard, 20.7 points per game
Jermaine Maybank,
Junior, Guard, DNP last year
Eugene Lawrence,
Sophomore, Guard, 7.3 points per game
Lamont Hamilton,
Junior, Forward, 13.3 points per game
Dexter Gray,
Sophomore, Forward, 6.0 points per game
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