St. John’s signees Chris Obekpa and Felix Balamou were both cleared by the NCAA to play basketball in the 2012-13 season.
“Chris and Felix were both academically cleared by the Eligibility Center,” Our Savior New American assistant Eric Jaklitsch told SNY.tv.
The news was confirmed by a source at St. John’s, who expects all of the team’s incoming players to be cleared.
A year ago, three St. John’s frosh — Norvel Pelle, Amir Garrett and JaKarr Sampson — were declared academically ineligible by the NCAA.
The 6-foot-9 Obekpa, ranked as a consensus Top 20 center by national recruiting services, should be a key defensive presence for the Johnnies.
“Chris is one of the more unique talents I have recruited in my coaching career,” said head coach Steve Lavin. “His stellar shot blocking abilities are as exceptional as any I’ve seen at this particular stage of a player’s development. Chris brings a game-changing defensive presence and competitive spirit that will give us an edge. He has consistently demonstrated a high degree of intelligence with his unselfish approach to the game at both ends of the court. He is an excellent fit for our baseline-to-baseline attacking style of play.”
Balamou is an athletic, but raw 6-3 wing who will learn behind players like Garrett, Sir’Dominic Pointer and D’Angelo Harrison.
“Felix is an explosive athlete with a fierce will and determination to compete at the highest levels of basketball,” said Lavin. “His athleticism, slashing ability and defensive prowess fit well with our baseline-to-baseline attacking style of play. Felix has shown marked improvement over this past year. His best days of basketball are clearly ahead of him.”
