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Johnnies' interest heating up for Lincoln's Isaiah Whitehead

Lincoln's Whitehead is high on the Johnnies' radar.

By Quinn Rochford
USA TODAY Sports

Steve Lavin got his 2013 target in Rysheed Jordan two weeks ago. Next on his recruiting radar is St. John's top 2014 target.

And that process is well underway.

Isaiah Whitehead, the highly talented 6'4" shooting guard from Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, is very high on the Johnnies' recruiting radar and has been for quite some time. Yet, as his decision gets within a year, the interest is heightening.

Whitehead tweeted that Lavin, along with new Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino, visited him at Lincoln on Wednesday:

Lavin convinced Jordan to commit to St. John's after he and assistant coach Tony Chiles persistently visited him at games played for Vaux Roberts High School and on the Philadelphia AAU circuit. Now, they're continuing a similar process with Whitehead.

Whitehead, a New York kid, is also considering a group of schools which include St. John's, Syracuse, UCLA, Kentucky, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisville, and a few others. Some have indicated that he has favored the Orange, where he would team up with fellow New York City talent Chris McCullough.

Whitehead, who participated in the PSAL semifinals at Carnesecca Arena last March, has been on the Red Storm radar for some time now. St. John's has been pursuing him more aggressively recently, with Rico Hines watching Whitehead courtside multiple times at last week's Pitt Hoop Group Jam Fest.

He is currently ranked 46th in ESPN's overall 2014 recruiting rankings, while he is valued much higher by Rivals who ranks him 19th nationally.

Either way, the Red Storm would receive one of the city's best young talents if Whitehead were to choose St. John's sometime next year. Steve Lavin is making sure that he's right where he needs to be - at the top of the list.

St. John's is also involved with Bishop Loughlin's Khadeen Carrington, also a member of the 2014 class.

See also: Tuesday's recruiting roundup: Red Storm 2014/2015 targets at Nike EYBL and Hoop Group Jam Fest

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