St. John’s Basketball: Analyzing transfer targets Jordan Dingle and Lance Ware
![Nov 21, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; St. John's Red Storm center Joel Soriano (11) celebrates after scoring in the first half against the Temple Owls at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports Nov 21, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; St. John's Red Storm center Joel Soriano (11) celebrates after scoring in the first half against the Temple Owls at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/0a68251d19fe61d0567ba54aaa2e0efbe16de7dcd427f044f236bb6056702e82.jpg)
St. John’s Basketball transfer target – Lance Ware (Kentucky)
The Red Storm has had another transfer move in the past 48 hours but it wasn’t someone who arrived but rather departed. Mohamed Keita was a backup big man that played just seven games in his first year with the program. Losing him doesn’t hurt as much from a productivity standpoint as much as not having depth.
Right now, the frontcourt for St. John’s consists of Soriano, Slazinski, and 6’8 combo forward, Drissa Traore. And only Soriano can play the five-spot in a Big East Conference that features stars like Ryan Kalkbrenner, Donovan Clingan, Zach Freemantle, and Eric Dixon.
One target that seems to have legs is Ware, a former top-50 prospect that spent the past three years at Kentucky. He’s been explicitly a backup, averaging under 10 mpg and scoring just a basket a game. The 6’9 forward/center has been a good “glue guy” and solid defender/rebounder when on the court for the Wildcats but the emergence of Oscar Tshiebwe has hurt any chance Ware has of getting meaningful minutes.
Reportedly, Ware is setting up a visit with the program and would be not only the ideal backup to Soriano but also get minutes at the four-spot, especially if Mgbako doesn’t commit to the Red Storm. It would be the splashiest of pickups but one that the roster could use and benefit from.