Paris Horne - Red Storm in Review 2011: defense matters

The soft spoken Paris Horne gave four very versatile years to the St. John's program. A whole lot of dunks. Some nice frustrating defense. A big smile and dedication to his craft, whatever it needed to be that year. 

Horne might have needed some work when he came to campus; but it seems that he picks up lessons very well.

The ultimate in role player, Paris Horne's role has changed during his time playing for the St. John's Red Storm. He's been the bit player, the go-to guy, the defensive specialist. And always a threat to leave an opponent on the wrong side of a poster. He's always been willing and able to put his athleticism to use, and despite not being great at getting his own shot, he was a strong four-year contributor for the Johnnies - built to fit what needed doing, a coach's dream.

A look back at Paris Horne, a couple of his signature games, and how he picks up things pretty quickly, below the fold - as we continue our Red Storm in Review series. Good luck to Paris on his future European endeavors - Paris mentions trying to play in Germany after the summer to the New York Post.

Steve Lavin's likened Horne to San Antonio Spurs stalwart offense-stopper Bruce Bowen. Which might have been some words to puff up Horne's contribution and keep Paris focused on the role the staff needed him to play.

Last year, Lavin needed a perimeter player who could come off the bench and just D up. Maybe make a few open shots from the perimeter, dunk some balls, put pressure on ballhandlers and problem shooters to get them flustered. Horne wasn't the main beneficiary of steals, but without his ball pressure, the defense would be just a zone in search of intensity.

Role = filled. Paris was focused for St. John's basketball. Effective. A diligent defender. He picks up his lessons very well. Horne was a player who looked like roster-filler back in 2006-07 when he committed, the kind of player who gets high-major offers from teams trying to find a diamond in the rough. Lucky for Horne, he was playing at Bridgton Academy with Justin Burrell.

Early in his career, Paris looked a little lost. He clanked a few shots wide right and left of the rim, he looked like an athletic leaper in search of a complete game.

Around that Niagara loss in 2007, after five games in, Horne stopped shooting airballs and wide clankers and started playing within himself. It's a credit to Norm Roberts and his staff that they straightened him out quickly; it seemed that Horne, more than some of the other players, took what that staff was teaching and turned it into solid production. The staff may have had struggled in developing big men, but Horne and D.J. Kennedy, who will be profiled shortly, had some good performances for Norm Roberts' iteration of the Johnnies.

Steve Lavin used Horne in many of the same ways, despite playing zone; Horne and Malik Boothe took on the tough defensive assignments on the perimeter, annoying in the backcourt, while D.J. Kennedy roamed around halfcourt, ready to cause havoc. Horne was consistent on defense, not hungry for the stat-stuffing steal but diligent in staying with his man, and pretty consistent on offense.

Paris' consistency also bleeds onto the negative side of the ledger. Over there, we see that Paris ability to create was limited. His low free throw rate was always confounding. He could get into the lane, but he NEVER got a call from the referees. He wasn't that quick or that crafty, one supposes; but his numbers make a person think he was some soft midrange jump shooter.

Which Horne was not.

Despite some nice shooting percentages from the perimeter - often from the corner - Paris also couldn't become a good free throw shooter, even when he got to the line. Maybe it was that he didn't get enough practice. He was good in January of last year, shooting 77% from the line. Incidentally, it was also the month where he got to the line most frequently as a percentage of shots, getting to the line at a 61.2% rate (free throws attempted divided by shots attempted).

Every player has a few flaws. But along with the versatility to play a number of roles at the guard and wing positions, the great moments Horne gave St. John's fans can't be forgotten. We cannot forget Horne beating a 7'2" center from Arizona State for a rebound during the Great Alaska Shootout. 

Paris Horne's awesome evening against Rutgers back on January 25th, 2009 should also always be remembered. He played around 40 minutes, missed one shot (a 3-pointer), shot NO free throws, scored 20 points in the first half. He was efficient, locked in. And on that night, the Knights knew his name was the Horne, for the laid his vengeance upon them. While locking down that wildly overhyped Mike Rosario. (Yes, I know that the next year, Mike Rosario looked like a superhero at the RAC against the Red Storm. I know.)

And of course, there was Paris Horne's filthy dunk on Louisville's Gorgui Dieng. Yes, there's a "look at the score, the team's getting housed" element, but the dunk is a hammer to face.

And the postgame quote:

Terrence Jennings asked Gorgui Dieng in the locker room why he let St. John's 6'3" Guard Paris Horne dunk on him and Dieng replied, "I didn’t know he could jump like that."

And if you don't know, Gorgui, now you know.

Follow Rumble in the Garden (RITG) on Facebook | Follow Pico on Twitter | Follow RITG posts on Twitter

Previous St. John's Red Storm in Review posts: offense/ defense | dele coker | dwayne polee | malik stith | sean evans | the risky coaching pick | the roster shakeup | malik boothe | justin burrell