Recruiting: St. John's, Lawrence decide not to pursue transfer

Jermaine Lawrence has taken St. John's off of his list, according to Zach Braziller of the New York Post.

Cincinnati transfer Jermaine Lawrence down to Iona, Hofstra and Manhattan. St. John's is out, per source. #sjubb

— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) May 16, 2014

Both sides agreed it wasn't the right fit, between Jermaine Lawrence and St. John's. #sjubb

— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) May 16, 2014

St. John's expressed interest early in his process, and while Lawrence had a poor year, he was highly regarded coming out of high school.

Dreams of a top-25 forward who grew up a bus ride away from the St. John's campus, a forward who could be a bridge between the graduating class of 2015 and the next class of St. John's star players, are gone.

Lawrence, a 6'9" forward who is transferring from Cincinnati, will look at Iona, Hofstra and Manhattan instead - all close to his Springfield Gardens home, but not as close as St. John's.

Meanwhile, St. John's recruiting for 2014 looks to be finished, barring the interest of transfers. With five players leaving the program, the Johnnies have brought in two players (Keith Thomas and Adonis Delarosa), while looking at a few transfers - Michigan forward Jon Horford, former Cincinnati forward Jermaine Lawrence and former Maryland wing Nick Faust, who still has to make a decision.

Steve Lavin has been recruiting with 2015 in mind, with a number of guards, headlined by Isaiah Briscoe, and local big man Cheick Diallo the other main target.