SYRACUSE, N.Y. –– As I reported on Twitter late Friday night, St. John’s is now looking at Siena coach Fran McCaffery and will interview him next.
The New York Post, citing multiple sources, said St. John’s would meet Saturday with McCaffery, who is also a leading candidate for the Seton Hall job.
McCaffery has let the Saints to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and is 112-51 at Siena.
St. John’s AD Chris Monasch met Friday in New York with Boston College coach Al Skinner, but a source said Skinner is part of the “next tier” of candidates after Florida’s Billy Donovan and Georgia Tech’s Paul Hewitt both turned the job down.
Another potential candidate, Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg, agreed Friday to a two-year extension at that school.
Skinner told The Boston Globe “the talks were ongoing.’
Former St. John’s coach Norm Roberts was fired last week after six seasons.
Two highly placed college basketball sources told me they “doubt” ESPN analyst Steve Lavin would take the St. John’s job. He is married to an actress and likes L.A. life.
Rhode Island coach Jimmy Baron, a Brooklyn native, has also gained support within the New York AAU community, with one highly influential AAU coach saying, “His teams play hard and are fun to watch. I love the way his teams press and trap and I think he can get it done here.”
Elsewhere on the coaching carousel, new Fordham coach Tom Pecora was slated to meet Saturday morning with former interim coach Jared Grasso.
Also, Vanderbilt assistant King Rice, Rutgers assistant Darren Savino and St. Benedict’s Prep coach Dan Hurley remain candidates for the Wagner opening.
U17 NATIONAL TEAM HAS JERSEY TIES
***Three New Jersey players — Michael Gilchrist of St. Patrick, Sterling Gibbs of Seton Hall Prep and Kyle Anderson of Paterson Catholic — as well as 6-10 St. Thomas More (Conn.) big man Andre Drummond will play for the USA U17 National Team this summer.
The team will compete in the inaugural 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship For Men in Hamburg, Germany July 2-11. It will train in San Antonio, Texas June 18-24.
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