After signing 18 players in his first two years at St. John’s, Steve Lavin can afford to be more selective in his third try.
So Lavin and his staff are now focusing on a few players in the Class of 2013, including point guard Rysheed Jordan of Philadelphia, forward Jarell Martin of Louisiana, forward Ish Wainright of Maryland, forward Jermaine Lawrence of New Jersey and forward Maurice Ndour of Monroe College.
Lavin and Johnnies assistant Tony Chiles watched the 6-foot-4 Jordan work out Tuesday at Philly Vaux Roberts High, as did Rutgers head coach Mike Rice and assistant Jimmy Martelli, Syracuse associate head coach Mike Hopkins and Villanova associate head coach Billy Lange.
UCLA, Maryland and Temple are among those also involved with Jordan, who is expected to visit UCLA during the last weekend in September. Bruins coach Ben Howland is also expected to come watch Jordan soon.
Wainright is expected to visit St. John’s this month, and Jordan in October, sources told SNY.tv.
Martin is an athletic 6-9 forward who recently cut his list to seven schools, including St. John’s.
Lawrence, a special 6-10 player from Queens who plays at Pope John, would be a huge get for St. John’s. He also cut his list to seven. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and assistant Adrian Autry watched him Tuesday, and Cincinnati assistant Darren Savino is due Friday.
Wainright is a 6-6 wing who missed much of the summer recruiting period after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture.
He told The Washington Post he was considering Kansas, Duke, Syracuse, Florida, Ohio State, UCLA, Arizona, Missouri, Baylor and Texas.
Ndour is a power forward from Monroe, which just sent two players to St. John’s in Orlando Sanchez and Marco Bourgault.
