Jermaine Lawrence is expected to visit St. John’s this weekend although he is still awaiting confirmation from the staff, sources confirmed to SNY.tv.
The news was first reported by Evan Daniels of Scout com.
St. John’s plays at DePaul at 11 a.m. Saturday, but the Johnnies would be back in New York after that. Monday is a holiday and Lawrence could theoretically stay through part of that day.
The 6-foot-10 Lawrence told SNY.tv last Saturday that he would visit St. John’s sometime soon and then decide soon thereafter.
“St. John’s is close by home, the coaching staff is cool,” he said. “I like their style of play. They get up and down and their power forwards have freedom.”
St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin is a strong closer and he will have the last visit after Lawrence already took officials to Cincinnati and UNLV.
As he does with all recruits, Lavin will emphasize his staff’s ability to get players to the NBA (Moe Harkless); the fact that St. John’s plays games at Madison Square Garden and in New York; and their up-tempo, attacking style of play.
St. John’s has JaKarr Sampson, Chris Obekpa and Christian Jones in the frontcourt, while Orlando Sanchez is not expected to play this season after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA.
Whether or not one of those players leaves after this season, Lawrence could contribute in the paint, in transition and as a perimeter shooter.
On Thursday he was nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game, but he has yet to play this season because of a hand injury and is not expected to play Monday night when Pope John XXIII plays in the Big Apple Invitational at Baruch College.
“It’s been hard,” Lawrence told SNY.tv Saturday.
“I’ve been sitting out since September. It’s been real nerve-racking not knowing what’s going to happen, but it’s been good to watch my team really compete against highly-rated teams.”
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