Chris Mullin embarks on 2 most crucial recruiting challenges
Cheick Diallo, Chris Mullin and Brandon Sampson Photo: Getty Images; Paul J. Bereswill; Kelly Kline/Under Armour
Chris Mullin couldn't have scripted his first two-plus weeks at St. John's any better.
He landed his two assistant coaching choices, Matt Abdelmassih and Barry "Slice" Rohrssen, from Iowa State and Kentucky, respectively. He picked up three forward prospects: Tennessee transfer Tariq Ownes, junior-college prospect Darien Williams and 6-foot-11 high school player Yankuba Sima.
But now comes the hard part, securing top-ranked players Brandon Sampson and Cheick Diallo, whom Mullin will meet with separately on Saturday.
"If he is able to land one or both of those guys, it's fair to make a broad assessment of him as a recruiter because of how impressive that would be," Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Eric Bossi said. "But if he doesn't, it would be unfair to judge him. It's not easy to come in and lock down players [like that] in two to three weeks."
Sampson, a four-star recruit from Louisiana, initially committed to St. John's in January when Steve Lavin was the coach. The high-scoring shooting guard - Louisiana's Mr. Basketball - opened up his recruitment when Lavin was fired, and has drawn several suitors, including hometown school LSU, SMU and Oklahoma State. He was expected to visit SMU this weekend, but that trip was cancelled.
Mullin and his staff have been active in trying to build a relationship with Sampson and those close to him, and they will meet in person for the first time this weekend. Sources said Sampson is attracted to everything about St. John's - from the school itself to playing home games at Madison Square Garden and the notoriety he would get playing in a major media market such as New York City. He almost certainly would start right away at St. John's, another bonus.
Diallo, a dynamic 6-foot-9 big man from Mali, is more uncertain. The five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American has been down to the same five schools - Kentucky, Kansas, Iowa State, St. John's and Pittsburgh - for several months, and declined to speak to the media this week during the Jordan Brand Classic. His recruitment might take longer.
It is believed he will wait to see where the other highly rated recruits who remain uncommitted go and to make sure Kentucky coach John Calipari and Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg don't jump to the NBA.
St. John's biggest edge is Abdelmassih and Rohrssen, who were the lead recruiters for Diallo at their previous jobs. But Diallo and Sampson won't be coming to St. John's solely because of the assistant coaches. The head coach is the closer - often the difference between scoring the top recruit or losing out.
Mullin has to convince both players why he can get them to the NBA and why St. John's would be best for them without being able to point to any prior experience as a head coach or examples of players he has developed.
If St. John's misses on both, it would be understandable. Other head coaches have experience and built-in relationships with the two players. But if Mullin can nab one - or, in a dream scenario for St. John's fans, both - it would speak volumes.
"We don't know if he's a closer or not," said Bossi, the recruiting analyst. "That's still to be determined.
"The early signs have certainly been good."
The entire St. John's staff met with Christ the King junior guard Rawle Alkins - the best player in the city - on Friday.
Iona landed a commitment from junior college forward Jordan Washington of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa on Monday. The 6-foot-8 forward from Queens, a one-time Arizona State commit, led Indian Hills in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (7.5).
Iowa transfer Trey Dickerson from Queens picked South Dakota on Monday.
JUCO standouts Wesley Myers and JaQuan Lynch from Brooklyn signed with West Virginia and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, respectively, on Thursday.
Seton Hall announced the signings of Thurgood Marshall Academy three-star forward Amarveer Singh and Chicago forward Myles Carter, also a three star, on Thursday. The Pirates also offered Thomas Jefferson junior guard Shamorie Ponds a scholarship on Friday.
Robert Morris offered Cardozo junior guard Tariq Coburn a scholarship on Thursday while St. Raymond freshman Omar Silverio received scholarship offers from Iona and Hofstra on Wednesday.
Chris Mullin couldn't have scripted his first two-plus weeks at St. John's any better.
He landed his two assistant coaching choices, Matt Abdelmassih and Barry "Slice" Rohrssen, from Iowa State and Kentucky, respectively. He picked up three forward prospects: Tennessee transfer Tariq Ownes, junior-college prospect Darien Williams and 6-foot-11 high school player Yankuba Sima.
But now comes the hard part, securing top-ranked players Brandon Sampson and Cheick Diallo, whom Mullin will meet with separately on Saturday.
"If he is able to land one or both of those guys, it's fair to make a broad assessment of him as a recruiter because of how impressive that would be," Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Eric Bossi said. "But if he doesn't, it would be unfair to judge him. It's not easy to come in and lock down players [like that] in two to three weeks."
Sampson, a four-star recruit from Louisiana, initially committed to St. John's in January when Steve Lavin was the coach. The high-scoring shooting guard - Louisiana's Mr. Basketball - opened up his recruitment when Lavin was fired, and has drawn several suitors, including hometown school LSU, SMU and Oklahoma State. He was expected to visit SMU this weekend, but that trip was cancelled.
Mullin and his staff have been active in trying to build a relationship with Sampson and those close to him, and they will meet in person for the first time this weekend. Sources said Sampson is attracted to everything about St. John's - from the school itself to playing home games at Madison Square Garden and the notoriety he would get playing in a major media market such as New York City. He almost certainly would start right away at St. John's, another bonus.
Diallo, a dynamic 6-foot-9 big man from Mali, is more uncertain. The five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American has been down to the same five schools - Kentucky, Kansas, Iowa State, St. John's and Pittsburgh - for several months, and declined to speak to the media this week during the Jordan Brand Classic. His recruitment might take longer.
It is believed he will wait to see where the other highly rated recruits who remain uncommitted go and to make sure Kentucky coach John Calipari and Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg don't jump to the NBA.
St. John's biggest edge is Abdelmassih and Rohrssen, who were the lead recruiters for Diallo at their previous jobs. But Diallo and Sampson won't be coming to St. John's solely because of the assistant coaches. The head coach is the closer - often the difference between scoring the top recruit or losing out.
Mullin has to convince both players why he can get them to the NBA and why St. John's would be best for them without being able to point to any prior experience as a head coach or examples of players he has developed.
If St. John's misses on both, it would be understandable. Other head coaches have experience and built-in relationships with the two players. But if Mullin can nab one - or, in a dream scenario for St. John's fans, both - it would speak volumes.
"We don't know if he's a closer or not," said Bossi, the recruiting analyst. "That's still to be determined.
"The early signs have certainly been good."
The entire St. John's staff met with Christ the King junior guard Rawle Alkins - the best player in the city - on Friday.
Iona landed a commitment from junior college forward Jordan Washington of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa on Monday. The 6-foot-8 forward from Queens, a one-time Arizona State commit, led Indian Hills in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (7.5).
Iowa transfer Trey Dickerson from Queens picked South Dakota on Monday.
JUCO standouts Wesley Myers and JaQuan Lynch from Brooklyn signed with West Virginia and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, respectively, on Thursday.
Seton Hall announced the signings of Thurgood Marshall Academy three-star forward Amarveer Singh and Chicago forward Myles Carter, also a three star, on Thursday. The Pirates also offered Thomas Jefferson junior guard Shamorie Ponds a scholarship on Friday.
Robert Morris offered Cardozo junior guard Tariq Coburn a scholarship on Thursday while St. Raymond freshman Omar Silverio received scholarship offers from Iona and Hofstra on Wednesday.
