2005 Saint Johns Red Storm Basketball Preview

2005 Saint Johns Red Storm Team Preview

The Red Storm has some very good returning players. Senior guard Daryll Hill was the top scorer in the conference with 20.7 points per contest, while swingman Lamont Hamilton placed fourth in rebounding bringing in 7.5 a game. Sophomore Eugene Lawrence with 3.9 APG was forth overall in the Big East last year and first among freshman in the conference.

But the team lacks essentials, including someone to post up, another player to hit from the perimeter, and all-around basic athleticism. Norm Roberts, who was 9 and18, is back for his second year as the Red Storm’s coach. Roberts was brought in to legitimize and rebuild a scandal-ridden basketball program and he has started to do both.

Last year he recruited six new players, including Lawrence, who along with his stellar assist average, proved to be a fine shooter averaging 7.3 PPG. Dexter Gray, with 6.0 PPG, was another sound first year man, while Hamilton’s sophomore season saw him average 13.3 PPG.

This year’s freshman class includes one of the top 150 high school players—Ricky Torres. Torres, a guard, may give St. John’s a real threat on the perimeter. Roberts will be using him from the get-go. Another freshman, Anthony Mason, Jr., also has an accurate shot from outside.

Both Torres and Mason have the ability to address St. John’s lack of athleticism and dismal outside game. They can make a big difference immediately.

Still the Big East, with so many newly added teams and yet other established powerhouses, will prove to be a major challenge for this coach and his team. St John’s is on the right path to correcting its inadequacies, but it is a long way from being competitive in the Big East.

For more info on the 2005 Red Storm check out the official Saint Johns athletic site.