Recruiting: St. John’s gets a big man visitor

Some morning notes, where St. John’s visits with the two top remaining 2018 targets, a 2017 target; a visit from transfer target Mikey Dixon is on the horizon and another transfer is on the radar; and Marcus Lovett gets a number change.

First, recruiting.

St. John’s is looking at 6’8” forward Isaac Kante today in the 2017 class, while also visiting with center Moses Brown and point guard Luther Muhammad in the 2018 class.

We have talked about Brown and Muhammad, so let’s talk about Kante.

Isaac Kante

Kante is originally from Brooklyn, and has some interest from Georgia (a program that has an eye for tough forwards that fly under the radar) and St. Bonaventure recently. Size-wise, he seems solid (6’8”, 220 or 230 pounds). He’s local, from Brooklyn, and played at Paul Robeson High School in the past. In last year’s NIKE EYBL, he scored eight points pergame and pulled down five rebounds in 10 minutes (32 minute games) from the bench; he shot 61% from the floor, but didn’t block many shots.

So far it has been hard to find video on Kante, but he is the teammate of Alex Yetna at Putnam Science Academy who we profiled yesterday. From the New England Recruiting Report:

three of the very best [available players in New England] can all be found at the same school – Putnam Science Academy.

Alexis Yetna has been an absolute double-double machine for PSA, showing why he may be the best rebounder left on the board. DePaul and Iowa State are among his most aggressive suitors, while the list may very well get bigger before it gets any smaller. Isaac Kante has been arguably the most consistent member of the trio from start to finish this season. He pulled in a Kansas State offer early, also claimed a recent DePaul offer, and has a host of mid-major suitors as well.

Additionally:

6'8" post presence Isaac Kante brings a rugged toughness to a group that is as individually unique as it is deep.

Take those for what they’re worth, obviously.

Mikey Dixon

On the transfer front, St. John’s will be hosting the MAAC Rookie of the Year, Mikey Dixon, teammate of shooter Peter Kiss. Dixon, from Delaware, is an active and aggressive scorer who was the most efficient player for the Quinnipiac Bobcats as a freshman; he struggled early in the season against both high-major opponents the Bobcats played, Gonzaga and Seton Hall.

Dixon shot 52% inside the arc, 37% from outside and 86% at the free throw line. He drew some fouls, but at 6’2”, 160 lb, he will need to gain some strength and weight to attack in the same manner in the Big East.

Dixon was the Delaware Player of the Year and was a late bloomer who grew three inches in his junior and senior years.

Isiaha Mike [Duquesne transfer]

St. John’s has interest in forward Isiaha Mike, a player who can score inside and shoot from the perimeter - and chooses the outside shot often. Mike is from Scarborough, Ontario (near Toronto, Ontario in Canada).

He’s listed at 6’8”, 200 pounds, shot 33% from outside the arc and 52% inside; he looks like he might be more of a wing than a forward.

Marcus LoVett

Not only is Marcus LoVett coming back - but he's also taking Chris Mullin's number. Which was Richard Freudenberg's number this year, the number 20.

Interested in seeing what Freudenberg’s new number will be. Number 0 is available now...