CLEVELAND - After battling back from knee surgery and posting huge numbers with the NBA Developmental League's Erie BayHawks, former St. John's men's basketball swingman D.J. Kennedy has signed a deal with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers for the remainder of the 2011-12 season, as announced by Cavaliers' General Management on Saturday.

"We are pleased D.J. will now realize his dream of playing in the NBA," said Steve Lavin, Red Storm head men's basketball coach. "D.J. and his teammates at St. John's helped springboard the Johnnies back to national prominence. His leadership and versatility served as a catalyst in our run to the 2011 NCAA tournament. With Moe Harkless now being projected as a first round draft pick in the upcoming 2012 NBA Draft the Johnnies will have NBA representation from our last two teams. We believe this is further evidence of our program's bright future."

"I am thankful to the Cavaliers for giving me the chance to pursue my NBA dream," said Kennedy. "This is an incredible opportunity and I want to thank my family, friends and fans for sticking with me throughout my career and my comeback from injury. Special shoutout to Coach Lavin and all of my coaches at St. John's for believing in me and preparing me to help my dream come true. I am very blessed."

A 2011 graduate, the Pittsburgh native finished his Red Storm career 12th on STJ's all-time scoring list with 1,504 career points, 11th on the all-time rebounding list with 781 boards, fifth among sharpshooters with 122 3-point field goals and sixth on the all-time steals chart with 183 thefts. Those totals make him one of only three players in St. John's history to total 1,450 points, 750 rebounds and 150 steals, joining legends Malik Sealy (2,402 points, 880 rebounds, 238 steals) and George Johnson (1,763 points, 1,240 rebounds, 153 steals). Kennedy finished his St. John's career averaging 11.7 points on .436 shooting, 6.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 30.4 minutes in 129 games, 125 of which were starts.

St. John's third-leading scorer (10.4 points per game) and leading rebounder (5.6 rebounds per game) in 2010-11, Kennedy helped drive the 2010-11 Red Storm back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the program's now-vacated appearance in 2002. His senior year included a 21-12 overall record, marking St. John's most wins since the 2002-03 season, with six Top 25 victories and four over Top 10 opponents.

In 44 regular season games (all starts) with the BayHawks in 2011-12, Kennedy averaged 15.7 points on .447 shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 37.4 minutes per game. He shot .378 (51-135) from 3-point range and 81.6 percent from the free throw line (168-206). The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder also played in three of Erie's postseason games, averaging 14.3 points, 9.7 boards and 5.3 assists in 42.0 minutes per contest.

Kennedy, who becomes the 58th GATORADE Call-Up from the NBA Developmental League of the season, will wear No. 12 with the Cavaliers. He joins former St. John's standout Ron Artest, now-Metta World Peace, who plays small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, to bring St. John's total to two current NBA players. Harkless, the 2011-12 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, looks to become the third after declaring for the NBA Draft on March 19.