After filling a scholarship slot Tuesday morning with the addition of Ron M'Vouika, St. John's suddenly has another roster spot to add new talent for the upcoming season.
According to SNY, 6'10" big man Adonis De La Rosa has decided to transfer from St. John's after not playing a single minute last season due to NCAA eligibility issues (partial qualifier and could only practice).
As a three-star recruit out of Christ The King High School, De La Rosa chose the Johnnies over Pittsburgh and South Carolina with the hope of playing near his family in his home state.
At Christ The King, De La Rosa led the Royals to back-to-back city and state Federation championships as a junior and senior while being selected to the All-Tournament team in his final season.
The Bronx native and 14th ranked recruit in New York for 2014 is a solid rebounder and physical presence in the paint but the knock on De La Rosa has been his conditioning. In Chris Mullin's introductory press conference, the new head coach stated that he wanted his team to be the "fittest in the country" so the center may not have been a fit from the beginning.
Two out of three recruits from Lavin's 2014 recruiting class were ruled ineligible last season before shortly moving on without playing in a regular season match-up. Keith Thomas, another powerful big man, was supposed to be a strong factor off the bench but a transcript scandal at Westchester Community College broke loose and became known by the school and NCAA before the season tipped-off. Amar Alibegovic is the lone recruit from Lavin's final recruiting class to remain with the Johnnies and he should develop into a more polished stretch four under Mullin.
The Red Storm now have three scholarships remaining as they entertain the opportunity to land Federico Mussini, Marcus Lovett, Malik Ellison and the strongest name, Cheick Diallo. More roster turnover is coming.