Tanksley “Tank” Efianayi, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound shooting guard/small forward from Daytona State (FL), will visit St. John’s and Arizona State on the next two weekends and could commit at anytime.
“My plan is to wait and see, but things sometimes never go as planned, so anything could happen,” he told SNY.tv by phone on Tuesday.
Efianayi, a native of Manchester, Conn., has gotten to know St. John’s coach Steve Lavin in recent weeks.
“We built a relationship over the phone and I was able to meet both Coach Lav and coach [Jim] Whitesell less than a week ago when they came to see me practice,” he said.
“They were letting me know how I’d be a great fit in their program, how they’re losing a couple of wings and they need a veteran to come in and possibly help right away. And being able to play in the Garden, in New York, I’m from Connecticut and I have family in Brooklyn.”
St. John’s is targeting Efianayi for 2015, along with guards Isaiah Briscoe and Brandon Sampson, as well as forward Cheick Diallo, among others.
The following weekend (Sept. 26-28), Efianayi is set to visit Arizona State.
“One of my favorite players, James Harden, came out of Arizona State,” he said. “And I get to meet coach [Herb] Sendek today. Both styles of play are a little different but they both fit how I like to play. It’s a great fit overall.”
Efianayi said he’s considering “other schools as well,” but as of right now only has the two visits planned.
“Those are the only two schools I plan on visiting this fall,” he said.
Wherever he lands, Efianayi hopes to be a “marquee guy.”
“I want to win the [NCAA] Tournament but at the same time I also want to be a marquee guy that helps us get there,” he said. “I do want to be counted upon in helping a team win and playing a big, significant role in how we win”
