St. John’s coach Steve Lavin has already received nine gifts for next season.
Will God’s Gift be next?
Having landed nine recruits for the 2011-12 season, including 6-foot-2 IMG Academy guard Phil Greene, who committed Sunday while on an unofficial, the Johnnies still have two scholarships to give for next season.
They are one of several schools involved with God’s Gift Achiuwa, 6-foot-8 power forward from Port Harcourt, River States, Nigeria, who competes at Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y. His father is a minister in his home country and gave him the unusual name.
In his last three games, God’s Gift has put up 25 points and 19 rebounds, 25 and 10 and 32 and 15, respectively. His team has won 10 straight games and is ranked No. 3 nationally among Division II junior colleges.
Achiuwa on Wednesday was named the Region III male co-Athlete of the Week by the league office.
“So many schools are calling,” ECC coach Alex Nwora said. “He’s still looking at St. John’s, Cincinnati. Kentucky is calling.”
Nwora said Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin and assistant Darren Savino and Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua were involved.
“I know for sure he’s really considering St. John’s just to see what they have to offer academically and athletically, too,” Nwora said.
“Niagara is interested. They are the local school here. You can’t compare them with St. John’s.”
Nwora said God’s Gift would take visits after the season and plans to sign in the late signing period.
“We’re so busy now,” he said. “We’re playing three games a week. It’s going to be tough for him to travel and go to school. It will take away from what we’re trying to do.
“He takes his visits after the season.”
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**God’s Gift will sign in April
