Hurricane threat cancels Johnnies Cancun trip
QUEENS, N.Y. (Aug. 28, 2008) – Tropical Storm Gustav, currently brewing in the Caribbean near the island of Jamaica, canceled the St. John's men's basketball team's Labor Day trip to Cancun, Mexico.
With sustained winds near 70 mph, a tropical storm warning has been issued for the Caribbean, with the severe weather threatening to worsen and continue on a path toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where Cancun is located.
Advertisement
The Red Storm will not reschedule the trip for this season, but will consider options for international travel before the 2009-10 season.
"We were looking forward to the trip to Cancun, but with the severe weather in the area we decided it best to keep our team and student-athletes out of potential harm's way," said St. John's head coach Norm Roberts. "We are disappointed, but it is the right thing to do, and we were able to get a few great days of practice in and get the freshmen on the court for one day as well. We're all really looking forward for the 2008-09 season, and will get a chance to travel internationally before next year begins."
The Red Storm was granted 10 days of team practice in advance of its foreign travel, as per the NCAA, but will have to cancel the remaining sessions. Freshmen Quincy Roberts and TyShwan Edmondson practiced for the first time with their teammates yesterday, as the fall semester officially began.
Strength and conditioning sessions will continue, and Roberts plans to begin individual training sessions and limited full-team practices (Sept. 15) in the next few weeks as per NCAA rules.
Four starters and 10 letterwinners return for Roberts and the Red Storm in 2008-09, including an All-BIG EAST honorable mention selection in senior Anthony Mason Jr. (14.0 points per game, 4.4 rebounds) and BIG EAST All-Rookie team member Justin Burrell (10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg). Rising sophomore Dele Coker, who has slimmed down to 260 lbs. after an outstanding summer conditioning effort, continues to show marked improvement and looks to be a factor on the Red Storm's front lines.
Freshman Phil Wait, the Red Storm's new 7-1 center from Manchester, England, will continue to receive treatment and rehab from a minor knee injury suffered during a summer pickup game. Wait has been able to maintain a full conditioning regiment while rehabbing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to RedStormReport.com for all the late breaking NYC basketball news and updates.
Talk about St. John's on our Message Board.
Sign-up for our FREE eNewsletter to get the even more news right in your email box.