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Recruiting update: new transfer name, Mussini visits, St. John's notes

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By Norman Rose
Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports

With the addition of Barry Rohrssen, the St. John's coaching staff is slowly and steadily taking shape. But no matter who comes next, Chris Mullin's St. John's staff of Matt Abdelmassih (though Terence Mullin was with them last weekend during the evaluation period) have been busy looking for talent for the future.

Federico Mussini

Federico Mussini, a talented Italian player that Steve Lavin's staff was pursuing, is also on Chris Mullin's radar. Mussini stopped through New York on his way home to Italy from the Nike World Summit, where he played well while taking a backseat to some of the talent on the World Squad. From Zagsblog:

“Really good!!” Mussini said via direct message. “I liked the atmosphere of the college. For me [it] was the first time in an American college.”

Asked what he thought of new coach Chris Mullin, Mussini said, “He is a really good person.”

The 6-foot Mussini is also being recruited by Davidson, Gonzaga and Virginia, but has no other visits set at the moment. He still must decide whether he will attend an American college at all next season.

Georgios Papagiannis

Apparently St. John's will continue pursuing Papgiannis, and may travel to Greece to pay the 7'1" center a visit, per Zagsblog.

Manu Lecomte

Though Damion Lee did not include St. John's in his final five choices for his transfer, a new name has entered the transfer fray, as Mullin and his staff beat the bushes for talent.

While not eligible next season, the University of Miami guard Manu Lecomte, a Belgian point guard who will be a junior in 2016-17 when he's back on the court, would be a good presence at point guard - one who was being squeezed for minutes with the Hurricanes by Angel Rodriguez and JaQuon Newton. More in the State of the U recap of LeComte's season.

LeComte was a poor two-point shooter (32% in ACC Conference play) but a good three-point shooter (52% from outside the arc in conference play, 46% on the season). Lecomte is NOT a rebounder whatsoever at 5'11", 170, and isn't physical on either end. He also isn't a hugh-usage player, so he looks to be a complement to whatever squad he joins.

Yankuba Sima

St. John's continues to be active on the recruiting front, with 2015 center Yankuba Sima, who visited last week. He's a talented but raw center, and comes on the heels of Tariq Owens commit to transfer form Tennessee.

Of course, that begs the question - is Adonis Delarosa in St. John's plans? Or is Sima a contingency plan if Cheick Diallo doesn't choose St. John's?

Notes

D`Angelo Harrison performed well at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a showcase for seniors with pro aspirations in the NBA or abroad.

Brandon Sampson receives Louisiana "Mr. Basketball" - aka Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, Cheick Diallo receives honors:

And since Game of Thrones Season 5 is out:

Next Up In St. John's basketball recruiting

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