St. John’s coach Steve Lavin had lunch with suspended star D’Angelo Harrison this week. Red Storm fans can only hope it doesn’t turn out to be a last supper.
Lavin suspended Harrison, the mercurial and petulant combo guard, on March 1 for what sources said was conduct detrimental to the team.
Harrison has been a prolific scorer since the day he stepped on campus. He also has pushed Lavin and the coaching staff to the brink with his immaturity and attitude.
Lavin said Harrison could earn his way back on to the team by correcting his behavior and adhering to a list of rules, foremost his attitude toward others in the program.
Lavin said he’s seeing good results, but knows this is a fluid situation. The success of his team very well may hinge on how Lavin handles Harrison going forward.
“He’s been better on all fronts,’’ Lavin told The Post. “He is still 19 years old, so I’m well aware that he’s a work in progress, as every young person is but there’s an amplified sense of urgency for D’Angelo to demonstrate a greater maturity in all aspects of his life.’’
Lavin has tried to get this message across several times. He suspended Harrison for a preseason game and didn’t start him twice for minor offenses. Harrison wasn’t getting the message, so Lavin used a bullhorn.
He sat Harrison for the final three games of the regular season, the Big East Conference Tournament game against Villanova and two NIT games. The Johnnies were 16-11 overall and 8-7 in the Big East at the time of the suspension.
They didn’t win another conference game. They lost to Villanova on their home court. If not for the gritty come-from-behind win at St. Joseph’s in the NIT, St. John’s would have ended the season on a five-game losing streak.
Is it fair to lay that at Harrison’s feet? Probably not.
Nor is it fair to ask this St. John’s team to accommodate any one player’s selfishness. When asked if Harrison would be under a zero tolerance policy should he return next season, Lavin’s answer was, “No,” which might not sit well with other players that are going about their business the right way.
“He’ll be treated like the rest of the kids,’’ said Lavin. “As a coach, I’m reasonable in my expectations. I’m fair in terms of what the expectations are, understanding that there’s a learning curve with young people and they’re a work in progress, as is a basketball team.’’
That’s a noble concept but Harrison has proven to be not like the rest of the kids, none of whom have been disciplined to nearly the extent of the 6-foot-3 junior, who averaged 17.8 points per game last season.
If, for example, JaKarr Sampson or Sir’Dominic Pointer is tardy or gets tossed from practice, don’t both of those players deserve more rope than Harrison? There’s a reason penalties increase for second-time offenders.
“It’s tough because we’re talking about hypothetical situations,’’ said Lavin. “I just know on a daily basis, I approach every practice and game with a high expectation for the way in which I want our basketball players and team to perform.’’
Harrison, as reported by The Post, spent a couple of weeks last summer at the John Lucas camp. Lucas said he was impressed with Harrison’s work ethic.
Lavin spoke glowingly of Harrison’s maturity, even suggesting Harrison, along with Pointer and Phil Greene IV, were ready to take on leadership roles. Yet, by the second exhibition game, Harrison had been benched.
“What you want to see is measurable progress as a basketball program, and, when it comes to individual players, what I’m after is measurable progress that gradually the young people that I’m responsible for coaching are making strides in the right direction,’’ said Lavin.
There’s only one direction Harrison can go. If he falters, there’s only one step left for Lavin to take.