/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46544094/GettyImages-474874502.0.jpg)
At midnight Monday morning, college coaches became eligible to call and text class of 2017 recruits. That meant it was time for St. John's head coach Chris Mullin to once again make a wave of high quality offers for some talented players.
According to Zach Brazille of the New York Post, the Johnnies have already offered Trevon Duval, Brian Bowen and Billy Preston while keeping in touch with Hamidou Diallo, Andre Rafus and Mohammed Bamba.
2017 St. Benedict's Prep point guard Trevon Duval is ranked 13th overall on ESPN's Top 60. The Delaware native rates as a five-star prospect and holds other offers from Syracuse, Villanova, Louisville and UConn. The competition for his services won't be easy but any team that lands the guard is in for a special show. Duval is a talented playmaker, has the ability to score in bunches, has immense quickness off his first step and is very good with the ball in his hands.
Brian Bowen, a Michigan native, is a small forward that is ranked 16th overall on ESPN's Top 60. The five-star prospect also holds offers from Boston College and Louisville as his lanky frame and effective game is still developing
Heading down south, Billy Preston, a native of Dallas Texas, ranks 20th overall on ESPN's list while holding offers from a number of high major schools, including Kansas and UCLA. Preston is another five-star prospect that would give the Johnnies a stretch four as the talented athlete has the ability to handle, distribute and shoot the ball from the outside.
Hamidou Diallo, who plays his AAU ball for the New York Jayhawks and plays his high school basketball at Woodstock Academy, is an impressive shooting guard at 6'4." The five-star prospect is 30th on ESPN's Top 60 and has strong interest from Providence, Minnesota, UConn and Iowa State. The Huskies may be the leader of the pack as his AAU teammate Mamadou Diarra is already committed to Kevin Ollie for 2016.
Andre Rafus recently visited St. John's and the the 4-star guard from Baltimore would bring valuable paint toughness. The power forward measures in at 6'8" and has been contacted by multiple high quality programs including Kansas State and UConn. Rafus is not ranked on ESPN's list but his stock is rising rather fast so it is smart that Mullin is trying to develop a relationship.
Watch out for Mohammed Bamba, who is a 6'10" 5-star center from Harlem, New York. Ranked 10th, Bamba has interest from just about every major program in America as his size and length make him a special presence. When Kentucky and Kansas become involved you know he has special abilities.
While these offers are a terrific start, expect Mullin and the rest of his staff to hand out more 2017 offers over the next few weeks.