While his team is mired in a four-game losing streak, St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin continues to recruit to land players for next season and beyond.
Lavin is on the West Coast and will be at Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep Wednesday to watch senior forward Winston Shepard, sources told SNY.tv. Findlay (23-1), No. 2 in the nation, plays host to ABCD Academy.
The 6-foot-8 Shepard is the Rivals No. 10 small forward in the Class of 2012. He is coming off a 10-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist game last Friday in an 82-47 win at Lubbock (Texas) Trinity.
Shepard has previously said his top five were New Mexico, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, UNLV and UTEP, but said he would also consider Oregon and St. John’s.
While in California, Lavin also checked out some younger players at Harvard-Westlake, St. John’s Bosco, Taft and Serra.
Harvard-Westlake also features 6-8 senior power forward Zena Edosomwan.
Edosomwan lists Harvard — the school that produced Jeremy Lin — as his top choice but will need the required SAT score to get in.
If not, St. John’s may have a shot.
“He’s an incredible athlete who can run the floor with anybody in the country and finish around the rim,” Harvard-Westlake coach Greg Hilliard told SNY.tv in December.
“He’s played less basketball than a lot so his polish needs to be worked on. I think everybody sees him as a four who can run the floor, rebound and block shots and has a nice handle.
“He’s a polite, high-character kid. That’s why everybody puts him so high on the list. He’s very academic oriented.”
St. John’s is also keying in on 6-8 forward JaKarr Sampson of Brewster (N.H.) Academy, a St. John’s decommit who visits Kansas Feb. 25, and 6-9 shot-blocker Chris Obekpa of Our Savior New American.
Obekpa is considering numerous schools, including Seton Hall, which beat St. John’s, 94-64, Tuesday night, handing the Johnnies their fourth straight loss.
