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St. John's Red Storm (2001: 14-15)

The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I teams, be sure to order the 2001-02 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.

Program overview

Well, that didn't quite turn out the way we thought, now did it?

The arrival of heralded guard Omar Cook was supposed to turbo-charge the Red Storm, bringing them to hurricane status and then setting them loose throughout an undermanned Big East. It didn't matter that three starters were gone from 1999-2000, or that the team would be starting as many as four new players, the Storm would continue to thrive.

Although Cook had a strong debut, leading the team in scoring (15.3 ppg) and piling up 8.7 assists per game, he was erratic at times, shooting just 36 percent from the field and only 30.9 percent from three-point range.

And the rest of the team was no more complete. While the Red Storm did thrive offensively, they were awful at the other end, allowing rivals to make 44.9 percent of their field-goal tries, and not much better on the backboards, where they fought opponents to a tie.

The result was an extremely unfulfilling 14-15 season that brought the Red Storm back -- at least for one season -- to the unhappy times that preceded Mike Jarvis' arrival. Things became worse soon afterward, when Cook played his one-and-done card and headed to the NBA.

Although there is a collection of familiar names around Jamaica this year, there is a dearth of star power. Even forward Anthony Glover, who was expected to be a monster inside, looked rather mortal last year. There are quality newcomers on the horizon, but it remains to be seen whether they have enough to make the instant impact the Red Storm need.

St. John's is unlikely to slip below .500 again, but the program is well removed from its successes the first two years of Jarvis' tenure.

Backcourt

The backcourt has candidates but few early answers at the point. Perhaps 6-4 junior Sharif Fordham (4.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.2 apg) can do that job, although he proved last year to be more comfortable in a combination role, with plenty of work at the two-spot. Fordham is a good defender but lacks shooting range and will most likely be the third guard used by Jarvis.

The point could be Marcus Hatten, from Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College and Mervo High School in Baltimore, Md., a 6-2 junior who hails from the same junior college that produced former high-scoring St. John's guard Bootsy Thornton. Hatten was a first-team NJCAA All-American last year after scoring 24.1 points per game and averaging 5.0 rebounds and 3.6 steals. He left Tallahassee with school records for single-season scoring average (breaking Thornton's mark) and steals in a year.

The third candidate at the point is 6-1 freshman Tristan Smith from Amityville (N.Y.) High School, who averaged 24.0 points last year and left as the school's all-time leader in points, assists and steals. He led Amityville to a pair of New York Class B titles and was a key member of last season's 27-1 team.

Could Jarvis go with a Smith/Hatten backcourt? Absolutely. That would allow him to use 6-6 sophomore Willie Shaw (13.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .379 3PT) at the three, although Shaw's shooting ability makes him valuable on the perimeter at the wing-guard position, too. Shaw was the second-leading Red Storm scorer last year and swung between the two and three positions, which are interchangeable in Jarvis' system.

Two more guards in the program are walk-ons Christian Diaz from George Washington High School and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, a 6-3 junior, and 6-1 freshman Jon Schelman from LaGuardia High School in New York, N.Y. Figure plenty of wing time for 6-6 junior Alpha Bangura (6.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg), who made a successful transition to the Big East after transferring to St. John's from Monmouth. His challenge is to improve his shooting range, which is limited, and to improve his rebounding and defense.

Another forward with the potential to play significant minutes is 6-6 freshman Eric King, from Milford (Conn.) Academy and Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. King averaged 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds last year at Milford after being voted the New York PSAL Player of the Year by the New York Post, after his senior season at Lincoln. He's a physical player who can help inside, something the Red Storm needs.

Frontcourt

There are plenty of bodies and experience to man the four and five positions. The question is whether any of them is ready to be a major producer.

The 6-6 Glover (13.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg), now a senior, has the potential, no question about it. Though shorter than the average pivot, he has tremendous strength and the desire to hit the boards. Though not expected to be a huge scorer, the Red Storm would like to see him push his rebounding work up to eight or nine a game.

He'll get plenty of help from 6-8 sophomore Kyle Cuffe (8.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, .519 FG), who had a fine debut and should use his considerable offensive skills to blossom into a double-figure scorer this season.

Donald Emanuel (3.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg) returns for his senior season at the four and five spots, providing solid rebounding in spurts and some fairly solid defense. The 6-8 banger is a good role player.

When it comes to pure size, few teams can touch the Johnnies, who have three players 6-11 or taller. Unfortunately, none was all that impressive last year.

The best of the bunch was 6-11 sophomore Mohamed Diakite (2.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg), whom Jarvis likened last year to Patrick Ewing. Diakite is athletic, but he is thin and needs plenty of polish. Sophomore Curtis Johnson (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg) played just one game last year and continues to grapple with his weight. The 7-3, 320-pounder needs to improve his conditioning and strength to make a significant contribution.

Another 6-11 player, junior Abe Keita (0.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg), struggled to find a spot in the rotation last year. Though athletic, with good hands, he has little offensive polish and is still adjusting to the collegiate game.

Bottom line

This St. John's team has potential, but whatever it accomplishes, it will have to do so by committee, because there is no standout. Maybe that's not a bad thing, after the disappointment the Red Storm endured last year with Cook.

Although one of the newcomers could emerge as a big-time scorer, it will be incumbent upon Shaw, Glover and Cuffe to have big seasons. There is still a question at the point, where any of three players could start-with no guarantee of finishing. After having Cook and Erick Barkley during his three years at St. John's, Jarvis has no such cinch at the team's most important position. How well he fills that spot will determine whether the Red Storm can make a run at an NCAA berth.

The defense and rebounding have to improve, too. Just about everybody scored on the Red Storm last year, taking advantage of the team's desire to run and gun. Expect things to tighten up considerably this year, because Jarvis has plenty of bodies available and can mete out playing time according to the desire to defend.

There won't be another slide below .500, but 25 wins aren't in the offing, either. Still, this is a fairly young team, and plenty will return next year, perhaps even Glover, if he graduates by the end of summer. The 2001-02 season could be a good step toward future success, provided the questions are answered.