Red Storm Tip-Off lives up to hype
QUEENS, NY — St. John’s showcased its best qualities Friday in front of a packed crowd in Queens with a handful of five-star recruiting targets in attendance at the Red Storm Tip Off.
While the product on the court may still be a work in progress, second-year coach Chris Mullin can certainly sell the glitz and glamour of the New York City’s premier college basketball program, including a hungry fanbase (a record crowd showed up to the 5,602-seat Carnesecca Arena) and local star power as alumnus and recording artist J. Cole made a guest appearance while platinum-selling rapper Desiigner ended the night with an energetic performance.
Five-star Archbishop Molloy teammates Moses Brown and Cole Anthony took the short trip to see the Johnnies scrimmage. A crew of out of state priority targets made the trip as well with Scottie Lewis of Ranney and Roselle Catholic’s Nazreon Reid, both five-star talents, commuting from New Jersey.
A pair of 2020 standouts from the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area were also present with Che Evans Jr. and Justin Lewis in the audience, a pleasant sign as Mullin and his staff seeks to build early relationship with young talent across the east coast region.
In total 24 recruits across the 2018, 2019, and 2020 classes were expected.
Marcus LoVett led Richard Freudenberg, Kassoum Yakwe, Amar Alibegovic, and Yankuba Sima on the red team in a half speed 16-minute scrimmage with Shamorie Ponds, Federico Mussini, Bashir Ahmed, Darien Williams, and Tariq Owens on the white squad.
Malik Ellison did not play.
Adding to a night of celebration, the St. John’s women’s program unveiled the 2015 Big East championship banner and presented president Dr. Conrado "Bobby" Gempesaw with his ring.
St. John’s will host an exhibition vs. Baruch on Halloween before opening the season at home on Nov. 11 vs. Bethune Cookman.