The buzz is back at St. John’s.
Carnesecca Arena was rocking Friday night for the Red Storm Tip-Off as an event-record 3,158 fans filled up each corner and crevice of the building to catch a glimpse of head coach Steve Lavin’s new team.
When he took the job at St. John’s three years ago, Lavin called the Quens school a sleeping giant.
But there was nothing quiet about Lavin’s program Friday night as his team officially kicked off the season.
“The program has picked up some traction, both in recruiting relevance and in the college basketball landscape,” the third-year coach said. “Now the next step is shaping this young team and seasoning this group so we can turn into a sustainable winner.”
Lavin, announced last, received the loudest ovation, a well-deserved honor. His work developing the Red Storm brand with his “Hammer to Rock” mantra has put the program back on the national map — from his ability to draw top recruits to Jamaica, Queens to leading the Red Storm back to the NCAA tournament in his first season — after a near-decade of insignificance.
The Red Storm Tip-Off was unlike any of the previous ones, which began in 2007. St. John’s program was one of eight schools with its Midnight Madness event nationally broadcast on ESPN3 and the event drew a swarm of top area coaches and recruits, such as highly sought-after Queens forward Jermaine Lawrence of Pope John (N.J.).
“It was indescribable,” said sophomore forward Amir Garrett, who is also a pitcher in the Reds organization. “It was crazy. It was a wonderful feeling. It was definitely a memorable moment. I’ll never forget it.”
Despite a down second year for Lavin, in which his undermanned and young team went just 13-19 and he was limited to four games on the bench because of prostate cancer surgery, the program is expected to take a major leap forward despite its youth, featuring 10 underclassmen.
“We’re going to be a top dog,” Garrett boldly predicted.
That’s a nod to the elite recruiting class put together done by Lavin and chief assistants Rico Hines and Tony Chiles. They brought in an eight-man class, ranked among the best in the country, to compliment returning contributors Phil Greene, D’Angelo Harrison, Garrett and God’s Gift Achiuwa.
“We got a lot of weapons,” Harrison raved. “It’s going to be hard to guard us.”
The newcomers are led by New England Preparatory School Athletic Council AAA Player of the Year and National Prep Championship Tournament MVP JaKarr Sampson of Brewster Academy (N.H.), shot-blocking dynamo Chris Obekpa of Nigeria via Our Savior New American on Long Island and JUCO transfer Orlando Sanchez of Monroe College, a trio of forwards who should turn last year’s weakness inside into a great strength.
The 6-foot-8 Samspon put on a show Friday night, drawing oohs and aahs in the layup lines with his astounding vertical leap and winning the slam dunk contest with a series of jaw-dropping dunks.
His finest slam was his first one, Sampson tossing the ball in the air, putting it between the legs with his left hand and throwing it home with his right. Later, Sanchez kicked the ball to himself and flipped it behind his head to Sampson, who threw down a spinning dunk.
“JaKarr’s going to be a great player, you can see it already,” said Harrison, St. John’s clear-cut leader. “He has the full package.”
This group, which Lavin has said is the deepest he ever has coached, feels it is primed to open eyes around the country, to dispute the notion they are too young to win. Lavin, Garrett said, is the biggest reason for so much optimism, the program’s architect returning after missing so much time last year.
“We have our leader back,” Garrett said. “We’re ready to go.”
zbraziller@nypost.com