:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54218995/usa_today_9700948.0.jpg)
On the first day of the signing period, our hoops team gave to we...*
No commitments - it’s not yet Hoops Christmas in this late signing period - but the Red Storm have jumped into the competition to land the services of Kenny Wooten, a three- or four-star forward who decommitted from Arizona State this week**.
'17 Kenny Wooten from Trinity International (NV), tells me he has picked up an offer from St. John's.
— Pat Lawless (@PatLawless_) April 12, 2017
Wooten is a 6’8”, 205 pound forward who plays at the Trinity International School in Nevada for a post-grad year; he’s ranked 129 in the 247 Sports composite and had a long list of offers. He previously played at Manteca High School in northern California, in a town between Stockton and Modesto.
Last time, Oregon, Arizona, California, Arkansas, DePaul, Illinois and Kansas had reportedly offered. This time around, he has already collected an offer from Seton Hall and is saying sweet sweet words about the Oregon Ducks program.
Obviously, St. John’s thinks they have a chance to land the coveted forward for next season - possibly because heavy playing time might be more realistic in Queens. In his video highlights, he seems to rebound well and play with energy.
Wooten profiles as a shot-blocker with energy who will need to gain some more weight and strength, possibly, but has the athleticism to compete.
The signing period lasts from today until May 17th, technically, but players can still sign Financial Aid Agreements (basically, their scholarship offers) until August. Most players look to sign quickly to solidify their college plans - and get a start on summer workouts.
Can the Johnnies add Wooten to their frontcourt of Tariq Owens, Marvin Clark Jr., Kassoum Yakwe and Amar Alibegovic?
Kenny Wooten, Jr. Highlight reel
Kenny Wooten Jr. - full game video
He’s #2 in the green uniform.
*Yes. That WAS terrible.
**Boy, after two losing seasons and a lot of players leaving, Bobby Hurley’s seat must be feeling a prickly kind of warm in the seat in the desert. It was just two years ago that many St. John’s fans wanted him or his brother to take the helm of the Johnnies...