St. John’s checking out the transfer market

St. John’s is, by accounts, looking at a few transfers to fill out next year’s roster — which has a number of new players already — and at least one freshman, though that number should increase.

As of now, St. John’s has two scholarships to use, though that could still change. Here are some names we have seen/ heard mentioned, and others will be added in subsequent posts.

Femi Olujobi (F), GR

A 6’8”, 230 pound grad transfer from North Carolina A&T, Femi Olujubi is a solid player from Brentwood on Long Island. Olujubi played at Oakland, but didn’t see much time. So he joined fellow LI Lightning friend Aaren Edmead at NC A&T, where he helped spearhead a 17-win turnaround for the MEAC squad in his lone season in Greensboro.

Olujobi scored 16 points per game, just under eight total rebounds per game, and shot 59% inside the arc. Just under half of his shots (47%) came in the mid-range, where he shot 43%; he shot 71% at the rim. He has range out to the three-point line.

The competition may have been MEAC, but he scored 20 points against Clemson in the season opener, 37 against Jacksonville in overtime, 21 against Virginia Tech and 18 against Georgetown.

Highlights. Olujobi is #25

Full game Femi Olujobi vs Clemson

David Caraher (F), FR

Forward/ wing David Caraher is a 6’6” player from North Carolina who will officially visit St. John’s on April 13-15. A freshman who won the Southland Conference’s Freshman of the Year award playing for 6-25 Houston Baptist, Caraher once committed to Butler before both school and player agreed to part ways.

Caraher has an interesting game; from the highlights, he may not be a power athlete but he is a skilled shooter from different levels, the kind of prospect the Johnnies seem to enjoy bringing in (think Marvin Clark II, Richard Freudenburg).

And he was productive, scoring 19 in his opener against Providence, 12 against Virginia Tech, 10 against Oklahoma State; he only scored six and seven, respectively, against Michigan State and Vanderbilt.

Caraher would sit out the next season, but would add a capable floor-stretcher to the team after Marvin Clark graduates.

Of interest: Caraher knows the family of Tyler Lewis whose father, Rick Lewis, runs the scouting service Phenom Hoops.

Highlights (Caraher is #5)

Full game vs Michigan State. David Caraher makes a nice heady play at the 2:50 mark, a bit slow on defense in other sequences:

Dachon Burke (G), SO

Keep an eye on Dachon Burke, from Orange, NJ. The 6’4” scorer from Robert Morris is the next in a long line of talented RMU players to leave the NEC squad, as Andy Toole’s keen eye for talent brings in players who can hang at higher levels.

Burke is a solid player (who I saw play vs Siena this year, came away impressed) with excellent quickness. His steal rates are high. His three-point shot comes and goes; his free throw percentage (63%) and his mid-range shooting percentage (32%) indicate a scorer whose shooting will need work.

But he can get those shots off, and in transition, he can throw it down. He scored 12 against North Carolina State and did not play in the Colonials’ opener against Ohio State.

Short Dachon Burke (#11) highlights (including Siena game)

Nine-minute highlights, Dachon Burke vs LIU-Brooklyn (he scored 20 points).

Full game against NC State.

Davion Mitchell (PG), FR

The quick and talented guard got solid minutes for the Auburn Tigers, but is moving on. From Georgia, Mitchell was a top-75 player coming out of high school. He was second on the Tigers with 63 assists, playing next to point guard Jared Harper.

Highlights

Full game vs Mississippi State (started as Mitchell enters the game); like in other games, he doesn’t get a lot of touches.

Maurice Calloo (F), HS SR

The Oak Hill Acedmy wing is 6’8”, 200 pounds and fairly athletic, describing himself as a 6’9” guard. His workout video asks if he is the next Carmelo.

Late in the 2018 recruiting game, he has interest from Ole Miss and Illinois among others; he has played at Spire Academy, Huntington Prep and now is playing for Oak Hill Academy in high school, and has played for Dream Vision & the Atlanta Celtics in AAU.

Last year in Adidas Uprising play, he struggled a bit —5/27 from the three (18%), 11/34 from inside arc (32%) plus 24% turnover rate. But this account from Rees Woodcock on the Illini Fansided site points out his upside (& negatives). He did have a 21% defensive rebound rate, and if he is not fully dedicated to becoming Carmelo, he could be an interesting piece.

Right now, the expected St. John’s roster looks as follows:

G: Shamorie Ponds, Justin Simon, Mikey Dixon, Bryan Trimble Jr., Greg Williams

W/F: Marvin Clark II, Boubacar Diakite

F: Sedee Keita, Josh Roberts, Marcellus Earlington, Kassoum Yakwe