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St. John’s Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Red Storm

By Benjamin Zacher

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: A general view during the game between the St. John's Red Storm and the Creighton Bluejays at Carnesecca Arena on March 01, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: A general view during the game between the St. John's Red Storm and the Creighton Bluejays at Carnesecca Arena on March 01, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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St. John's Basketball
St. John’s Basketball (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Bench

The Red Storm bench will most likely be comprised of one returner and five newcomers – one graduate transfer, two NJCAA transfers, and two freshmen from the same high school.

The returner will either be Roberts or Earlington, depending on who gets the start at power forward.  Again, these two are interchangeable, and both are capable of supplying quality minutes every single night.  Because I gave Earlington the starting spot, Roberts will be placed as the first man off the bench until he is fully healthy to start again.

Roberts, at power forward last season, worked out well for the Johnnies.  In just under 19 minutes, he averaged five points and 5.8 rebounds a game, registering a dominant 44 blocks in the process.  Despite his stellar shooting clip (54%), he will desperately have to improve his percentage from the free-throw line, which is an abysmal 43%.

The Red Storm frontcourt will receive a boost with the addition of George Washington graduate transfer Arnaldo Toro. Toro played all three frontcourt positions while at GW, concluding his time there largely as a center.  At 6-8, Toro averaged 6.1 points and a team-high seven rebounds in just under 19 minutes for the Colonials.

Toro, much like Roberts, Earlington, and Champagnie, is another reliable shooter inside for the Johnnies.  While at GW, Toro led the team in field goal percentage at 48%, and was a beast on the boards and getting put-backs, averaging nearly three offensive rebounds a game.

Vince Cole and Isaih Moore, two NJCAA Division I All-American honorees, have the opportunity to make an immediate impact for the Johnnies, and should already be a force to reckon with in the Big East.  Cole – a guard – and Moore – an interchangeable guard and forward – will undoubtedly both receive consideration for starting roles almost immediately.

Cole, a two-time NJCAA Region X Player of the Year selection at USC Salkehatchie, averaged 21.4 points per game last season on 51.8% shooting.  A 45% shooter from beyond the arc, Cole was also one of the best shooters in college basketball last season, drilling 90.1% of his shots from the line.  In addition, he averaged 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

Moore, meanwhile, has moved around a little bit, beginning his collegiate career at the College of Charleston before leading Pearl River Community College to its best season in school history.  In a season where the Wildcats entered the NJCAA Tournament as the no. 1 overall seed while maintaining a 28-0 record, Moore posted a 15.9 points per game and 9.1 boards per game average.

Incoming freshmen Posh Alexander and Dylan Addae-Wusu – both guards from Our Savior Lutheran School in the Bronx – should receive ample playing time behind Dunn, Williams, and Cole.  Both three-star commits, Alexander and Addae-Wusu are tabbed as top-ten 2020 recruits in the entire state of New York, according to 247sports.