Seton Hall basketball players Keon Lawrence, Aaron Geramipoor and Anali Okoloji sat out the team’s 97-55 exhibition victory Friday night over Division 3 William Paterson at Walsh Gym.
“It was a coach’s decision not to play them,” Seton Hall spokesman Matt Sweeney said.
Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard was not immediately available for comment.
Geramipoor, a freshman forward, has mononucleosis. Okoloji, a freshman forward, missed three weeks with a stress fracture but Willard said earlier this week at media day that he would be ready to go.
Lawrence, a senior, has also been bothered by a bad knee, but Willard spoke highly of him at media day and did not mention the knee then.
In their absence, Herb Pope had 16 points and 20 rebounds, Jeremy Hazell scored 16 points and freshman Fuquan Edwin added 15 points. Jordan Theodore dished 12 assists.
Seton Hall opens the season at No. 22 Temple Nov. 12.
FREE THROWS
The following recruits attended the Seton Hall game: Jaren Sina, Austin Colbert, Jordan Forehand, Josh Brown, Hallice Cooke, Kody Jenkins, Reggie Cameron and Kavon Stewart…South Florida is the latest school to call Brewster (N.H.) Academy guard Eli Carter, who’s also mulling Seton Hall, Charlotte, UCLA, URI and Oregon State. Eric Harrield, Carter’s AAU coach, said USF has not officially offered yet….St. John’s recruit Norvel Pelle came to Madison Square Garden before Friday’s Knicks-Wizards game, but did not remain for the contest, sources said. The 6-10 Pelle is the No. 2 center in the Class of 2011. He and Findlay Prep wing Amir Garrett are at St. John’s on official visits…Johnnie West scored 15 points, Deniz Kilicli scored 13 and Kevin Jones tallied 12 points and 10 boards in West Virginia’s 87-53 win over UNC-Pembroke.
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