Recruiting: update in the ESPN Top-60 rankings for 2019

ESPN’s top 60 recruiting rankings for the Class of 2019 are up and updated. That class, featuring a number of star area players, is filled with talent. Given the current roster at St. John’s, the program will strongly hope to keep one or two of the top players in that class at home.

Alas, the ship seems to have sailed to land some of the top local players. Cole Anthony (#6) has not expressed interest, while Scottie Lewis (#8) and Bryan Antoine (#7) have been recruiting by Chris Mullin and the staff, but have received heavy interest from the likes of Duke and Kansas.

The lure of home will likely not be enough to bring them in.

There is more hope with this set of players, though given the Red Storm’s recent struggles, they will be long shots.

• PG Jalen Lecque, dynamic guard from the Bronx who is now playing at Christ School in North Carolina is #10
• F Precious Achiuwa, God’sGift Achiuwa’s brother who plays at St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey, comes in at #12
• PF Aidan Igiehon, the Irish big man who plays at Lawrence Woodmere Academy, slots in at #38
• SF Khalil Whitney from Roselle Catholic lands at #42
• SG Jaime Jaquez, Jr. a high-scoring wing from Camarillo, CA, is #48

Current results play a huge factor in this class.

Top players tend to make their decisions for the fall, signing their paperwork and locking in their spot. Some do wait until the late spring. But that is rare for players who have the academics to get into school (and the personality characteristics that most coaches want). Late recruiting can come with a lot of surprises, with new teams “reaching” for a player that might be below their usual standard to fill a spot.

In other words: St. John’s current on-court results will affect the feeling these players have towards the program.