You may remember that point guard Malik Stith of North Carolina's East Mecklenburg High and now Bridgton Academy (and a Hempstead, Long Island native) signed with St. John's... then questioned St. John's situation and either the school or the player broke off the commit.
Apparently, Stith is back in play for the Red Storm.
(photo courtesy of Bridgton Academy)
From NBE Basketball, he's visiting on April 18th
:
Stith came to Bridgton as a St. John’s commit by way of North Carolina, where he won a state championship with East Mecklenburg HS, and also with ties to Hempstead, N.Y.
Back at February’s National Prep School Invitational, the 5-11 lead guard gave a list of Rhode Island, St. John’s, Rutgers, South Florida, George Washington and Kentucky.
The Red Storm were a surprise on that list then, considering Stith and St. John’s parted ways before the fall signing period. Stith planned to ride out the prep season and see what interest came his way.
And now, Stith is set to visit St. John’s the weekend of April 18 according to Bridgton head coach Whit Lesure. He’s also said to be considering South Carolina and La Salle.
Head coach Norm Roberts has been the point man in his recruitment and the two have reportedly cleared the air and taken a mature and balanced approach to a situation that tends to go ugly with players and schools breaking commitments.
The team needs a point guard who can play, for sure. Stith was voted MVP of the New England Prep School Athletic Council's Championship game win over South Kent Prep (where Omari Lawrence and Kevin Parrom go to school).
But this begs the question - who is leaving from the Red Storm? Norm wouldn't bring the kid in for a visit unless either someone was leaving or if he was planning on not asking a player to come back (since the scholarships are technically year to year, and Coach Roberts has let a few players transfer relatively amicably).
Is it one of the rising sophomore guards? Do one of the wings worry about their playing time? Is Anthony Mason Jr. going to have his dad pay his way? Some small intrigue with the Red Storm.