Isaiah Briscoe checked out St. John’s for Midnight Madness Friday night and had himself a good time.
“The coaching staff is real,” the 2015 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic guard told SNY.tv. “They don’t just tell you what you want to hear. And with them, everything isn’t about basketball.”
St. John’s coach Steve Lavin has rarely recruited New Jersey players during his four years in Queens — with UCLA sophomore Kyle Anderson a notable exception.
Yet Lavin is focusing on Briscoe, who is attracted to the idea of possibly playing in Madison Square Garden after the team’s current crop of guards — including Rysheed Jordan, D’Angelo Harrison and Phil Greene — move on.
Arizona, Syracuse, Florida, Rutgers and Seton Hall are among those also involved, but you can’t count out Lavin and the Johnnies.
“Coach Lavin and St. John’s have clearly made Isaiah a high priority for their program,” RC coach Dave Boff said. “They believe he fits in with the direction of their program and can be a major contributor from Day One.”
FREE THROWS
JUCO 6-9 center Octavius Ellis has committed to Arizona State, according to Doug Haller…Four-star forward Zylan Cheatham committed to San Diego State, according to multiple reports….Northwest Florida forward Michael Chandler visited Oregon over the weekend and enjoyed it but did not commit. “It’s a very nice school with nice coaches,” his uncle, Allan Chandler, told SNY.tv. “No commitment.” Oregon did land a pledge recently from 6-9 forward Ray Kasongo.
