Sports

St. John’s looks to shut down St. Bonaventure star

Steve Lavin has had tremendous success on the recruiting trail because he has a proven record of sending players to the NBA.

So maybe it isn’t hyperbole when the St. John’s coach says St. Bonaventure power forward Andrew Nicholson has pro potential.

“I know he’s on some draft boards,” Lavin said. “I’ve talked to some friends that I have in the NBA, and he clearly is a prospect for the next level.”

Nicholson is a 6-foot-9, 225-pound beast who last season became the second player in school history to be named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year.

The Red Storm remembers him well.

Nicholson dropped 26 on the Red Storm last season in a 69-68 loss. He is the player St. Bonaventure is rebuilding its program around and the player St. John’s must stop tonight (7:00, SNY) in Carnesecca Arena.

“I remember his jump hooks,” said St. John’s power forward Justin Burrell. “He has the best jump hook I’ve seen in a long time. He’s really tough in the post.”

The Red Storm (5-1) is looking to win six straight for the first time since the first six games of last season. St. Bonaventure (4-2) is looking to avenge last year’s last-second loss when Malik Boothe hit two free throws with 6.2 seconds left.

The Red Storm couldn’t stop Nicholson last season. He made 11-of-15 field goal attempts, grabbed four rebounds and blocked two shots.

“On offense, we’re really going to have to attack him and get him out of the game and in some foul trouble,” said Burrell. “We have to attack him on offense and make him play defense. A great offensive player like that, you have to make him work on both sides of the floor.”