Vince Cole declares intent to transfer from St. John’s

After a speaking to the staff, Vince Cole chooses to look for other college basketball opportunities, putting his name on the transfer list. (AKA the “transfer portal”)

The 6’6” guard from Charleston, SC, spent one season with the Red Storm, after a standout junior college career at University of South Carolina-Salkahatchie. Cole, who was AAU teammates with Isaih Moore, appeared in 27 games with 22 starts, averaging nine points and three rebounds per game.

Isaih Moore is also transferring from the program.

Known as a scorer coming in to the St. John’s program, Vince Cole took just under half (46%) of his shots from outside the arc, connecting on 36% of his threes (35%) in conference and 43% of his twos (36% of his twos in conference play). Cole scored a career-high 26 against Rider early in the season, and had a string of double-digit scoring games in the middle of Big East play.

His defense and attention to passing improved during the season, and he was a major part of the rotation. Despite earning minutes when guard Greg Williams was sidelined with a back injury, Cole could not find consistent scoring, finding open spaces hard to find in the Red Storm system. Still, Cole contributed — including a scoreless game against UConn where he blocked three shots and played good defense on St. John’s way to a win.

Good luck to Cole on his future endeavors.

The Red Storm will look a bit different next season with Cole and Moore likely gone, and Rasheem Dunn unlikely to come back (players can get another year of eligibility, so seniors can play one more season). David Caraher graduated earlier this season and has also transferred, and grad transfer Arnaldo Toro also may not return. Given the freedom expected for players to be eligible sooner, another player or two may choose to “enter the transfer portal”.

Three recruits are coming next season — Rafael Pinzon, a 6’5” wing who plays internationally for Puerto Rico and locally for Long Island Lutheran, his 6’8” teammate Drissa Traore, and forward O’Mar Stanley from the Kansas City area. Esaiah Nywie, a 6’10” forward, has practiced with the team and will join next season.

St. John’s has at least two spots to fill. The core of the team (players like Posh Alexander, Julian Champagnie, Greg Williams Jr. and Marcellus Earlington) may be solid, but the team needs more consistency, better shooting, interior strength and defense, and player continuity.

The Red Storm have reached out to Indiana senior guard Al Durham, South Florida guard David Collins, and Vermont guard Stef Smith; they had reached out to FIU guard Antonio Daye, Jr. but he has a list of four teams that do not include St. John’s.

Notes

Posh Alexander had surgery on his thumb today.