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St. John’s basketball: 2017-18 preview for the Red Storm

By Tristan Freeman

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Chris Mullin of the St. John's Red Storm talks with Shamorie Ponds
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Chris Mullin of the St. John's Red Storm talks with Shamorie Ponds /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 15: Ahmed
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 15: Ahmed /

Starting lineup

SO Marcus LoVett

The 6-foot guard was second on the team in scoring at 15.9 ppg. His 3.8 apg was first on the team, but he was the more explosive scorer of the duo. The freshman scored over 30 twice, including 31 at Minnesota and a season-high 32 at Xavier. Now, he needs to continue scoring on a consistent basis, as the Red Storm lost each game he struggled in.

SO Shamorie Ponds

The other half of the lethal combo, Ponds led the team with 17.7 ppg, good for third in the league. His overall game was on display with six steals against the Creighton Bluejays. Between Ponds and LoVett, this is a dangerous backcourt that could make a splash in the conference.

SO Justin Simon

One of the most intriguing players on the roster, Simon sat out last year after transferring from Arizona. A former ESPN top-40 prospect in 2015, Simon played just around eight minutes per game. The Wildcats always have a gluttony of guards, so it’s not necessarily an indictment on Simon for his lack of minutes. At 6’5″, he can play a number of positions and become a defensive asset for St. John’s.

SR Bashir Ahmed

One of the top JUCO prospects a couple of years ago, Ahmed was a hit for the program. The 6’7″ forward was third on the team in scoring with 13.4 ppg and started each game last season. His size would fit well at the four spot but his defense needs to improve against faster players.

JR Tariq Owens

Despite coming off the bench last season, the former Tennessee Volunteer was first in the Big East in blocks, at 2.2 a game. There were also at least ten occasions where he registered 4+ blocks in a single game. While he provides next to nothing on offense, his presence on defense is desperately needed on a team that finished dead last in total defense.