Andre Curbelo is coming household, and St. John’s now has a perhaps dynamic backcourt that could give the opposition matches.
The former Massive Ten Sixth Person of the Year and a former top-50 recruit out of Long Island Lutheran made his choice on Friday, becoming a member of Posh Alexander to develop what mentor Mike Anderson hopes is a place guard duo that can guide the Johnnies back to the NCAA Event.
“Just getting some fellas from my significant university, having children from New York, staying from residence, the design of play, why would not I want to go there?” the 6-foot-1 Curbelo instructed The Put up in an exceptional job interview. “I think it will be the excellent in shape and I’m just on the lookout ahead to it.”
A quantity of electricity-convention faculties had been associated, these as Gonzaga, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech and Clemson. Curbelo was drawn to the notion of coming back again to the spot, participating in with his outdated superior university teammates, Rafael Pinzon and Drissa Traore and he was captivated to Anderson’s speedy-paced design and style. Curbelo was common with the coaching staff, which recruited him out of significant university, and preferred the concept of playing following to Alexander in a tiny-ball lineup that can drive the speed. Assistant coach Van Macon was Curbelo’s direct recruiter.
Alexander was manufactured knowledgeable St. John’s was recruiting Curbelo and was in favor of the go to incorporate him, a source stated. Alexander had a robust freshman calendar year when he performed together with one more issue guard, Rasheem Dunn.
“I know it’s likely to be electrical,” Curbelo claimed of actively playing with Alexander. “I know we’re likely to thrust each individual other. I know we’ll likely go at it, much too. I know how superior we can be with each other.”
Curbelo, a Puerto Rican native, is coming off a fairly down year, in section due to a concussion that cost him two months of the time. He averaged 7.5 factors, 3.2 helps and 3.1 rebounds per activity, although capturing 32.9 p.c from the field. But he however showed flashes of his enormous expertise, scoring 20 points against projected top rated-5 NBA Draft decide Jaden Ivey and Purdue, and placing up 14 points and six helps in a big road win at Iowa. As a freshman, he averaged 9.1 points, 4.2 assists and shot 49 percent from the subject.
“He’s accountable for himself,” explained Jay David, Curbelo’s youth mentor who has regarded him considering the fact that he was in middle university. “He is aware of there is do the job that he needs to do, and he feels snug accomplishing that operate at St. John’s.”
A Division I assistant mentor common with Curbelo deemed it a no-brainer for St. John’s simply because of his large upside and potential in shape in the Johnnies’ up-tempo system — like Alexander, Curbelo is a weapon in changeover and in the open court — whilst also pointing out the flaws in his activity.
“He’s fun. He does some good, fantastic matters,” the mentor mentioned. “It gives St. John’s a dynamic participant. He sees the sport a move in advance. His IQ and his passing are at the highest level for a university basketball participant, but his choice producing can be questionable and his shot requirements a lot of operate.”
“Him and Posh co-present,” the mentor additional, “is just likely to be fascinating.”
Curbelo’s addition narrows St. John’s out there scholarships to two. The target now is on adding a shooter or two, preferable on the wing just after dropping Julian Champagnie and Aaron Wheeler to the professional ranks. The backcourt is now very comprehensive, not only with Curbelo and Alexander, but Pinzon, Dylan-Addae Wusu, Montez Mathis and incoming freshmen AJ Storr and Kolby King.
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