It may be the dog days of August, but St. John’s continues to host some of New York’s top recruits.
During the same week they are hosting Our Savior New American forward Kassoum Yakwe, new coach Chris Mullin and his staff hosted 2017 Christ the King point guard Jose Alvarado.
“It was great, there are great people around them,” the 6-foot, 175-pound Alvarado, who helped guide the Royals to their third consecutive Catholic League City Championship this past season, told SNY.tv. “I like Mullin is adjusting to the new staff and stuff like that.”
As for what role he would play, Alvarado said, “They like how I’m a pass-first point guard, how I make players around me much better. [Mullin] told me, ‘What big man doesn’t want to play with a point guard like Jose Alvarado?’ He said my jump shot is going to develop but they like my whole game.”
Alvarado holds offers from St. John’s, Miami, Indiana, Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, SMU, VCU, Fordham, Temple, Hofstra, Iona and Xavier, but currently has no other visits planned.
St. John’s is also actively recruiting Alvarado’s former Christ the King teammate Rawle Alkins, who will play in the Under Armour Elite 24 Game on Aug. 22 before he heads to his new prep school. Alkins recently cut his list, which now includes 11 schools.
“Me and Rawle, we didn’t talk about [recruiting], but if he stays that’s one helluva guy to stay in New York,” Alvarado said.
Meantime, Alvarado will now be the leader at CTK and plans on bringing it this year as coach Joe Arbitello’s squad seeks a fourth straight Catholic title.
“It’s going to be a different me this junior year,” he said. “I’m going to be much more explosive. They’re not going to really recognize my game. My jump shot is going to develop, everything’s going to develop.”
