By ADAM ZAGORIA
Whoever becomes the next head coach at St. John’s will have to conduct a major overhaul of the roster.
On the same day the school formally announced that Chris Mullin was out as head coach, junior guard Justin Simon declared for the NBA Draft and agreed with an agent. He will join fellow junior Shamorie Ponds among players leaving for the pros. St. John’s also lost forward Marvin Clark to graduation.
The Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Simon averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Red Storm.
That being said, I will declare for the 2019 NBA Draft. Thank you to all of those that have and will support me through this journey!?? https://t.co/giLyL6YhG3
— Justin Simon✨ (@simon_Says_so) April 9, 2019
We are excited to welcome the @BIGEASTMBB‘s Defensive Player of the Year, @simon_Says_so, to the family! After solidifying himself as a positionless offensive player who can play anywhere on the court and as a relentless lock down defender…Justin is ready for the next level! pic.twitter.com/Mwp2KnTMGG
— RZA Sports (@RZASports) April 9, 2019
Meantime, sophomore guard Bryan Trimble is expected to transfer, sources said. The 6-3 Trimble averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds.
St. John’s AD Mike Cragg met with the players Tuesday to inform them that Mullin was leaving and told them he would support whatever individual decision each player made about his future, sources said.
On the coaching front, there was nothing new on whether Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley would take the job, although several industry sources said the smart for St. John’s would be to hire Iona coach Tim Cluess and call it a day. Cluess, who played at St. John’s, has been to six NCAA Tournaments in nine years at the MAAC school, and is 19-4 in the MAAC Tournament.
“That’s the most safe logical decision,” one source said.
Hurley is said to be looking for in the neighborhood of $3 million annually after making $2.4 at Arizona State, where he’s under contract through 2022. He also has a reported $2.5 million buyout, and it’s unclear if St. John’s is willing or able to pay that.
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