Is good about to become great? Is St. John’s about to boast the best backcourt in the nation?
St. John’s (8-3), already with arguably the best backcourt in the Big East, could boast the best three-headed backcourt monster in college hoops if Jamal Branch, who makes his Red Storm debut tonight against UNC-Asheville in Carnesecca Arena, is as good as the coaching staff hopes.
The highly touted Texas A&M transfer has sat out the NCAA mandated one-year transfer period and will see about 10-15 minutes of action tonight. At 6-foot-3, 176 pounds, Branch has a Russell Westbrook-like body and a penchant for playmaking before scoring.
“I enjoy being the lead general on the floor, helping my teammates and being an extension of coach on the floor both offensively and defensively,’’ said Branch, who will wear No. 0. “I grew up watching my favorite players Allen Iverson and T.J. Ford and heard those guys talking about how you have to be a lead general at the point-guard position. That has stuck with me ever since.”
If Branch is the pass-first point guard the Red Storm project him to be, coach Steve Lavin would have unprecedented options.
Sophomore D’Angelo Harrison is a natural-born scorer, a savvy player who can work his way to the basket or knock down the NBA-range 3-pointer. He leads the Johnnies with 20.6 points per game.
Sophomore Phil Greene is a selfless defender who has developed into an effective offensive player. He leads the Red Storm with 37 assists.
Earlier this season, Harrison said he and Greene would compose the best backcourt in the league. Enter Branch, another sophomore who averaged 2.2 assists in 18.6 minutes per game at Texas A&M, where he had six assists in one outing.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow night, the three of them play together in stretches because it’s such a good look for us,’’ Lavin said. “I want to get them some minutes together, but also rotate the three of them so that they’re fresher coming down the stretch at the end of the game.”
Branch, who yesterday described himself as a lead general on at least three occasions, signed with the Aggies out of Grace Prep in Arlington, Texas, expecting to play for Mark Turgeon. But Turgeon bolted for the Maryland job and Branch wasn’t won over by his replacement, Billy Kennedy.
It was similar to the situation at St. John’s last season when Nurideen Lindsey transferred after not feeling comfortable playing for assistant Mike Dunlap, who replaced Lavin when the Johnnies head coach was recovering from prostate cancer surgery.
Harrison is logging a team-high 34.3 minutes per game. Greene is not far behind at 32.8. Branch’s presence could maximize all three of their performances by providing quality minutes.
“My role is going to be as a true point guard and the leader on the floor,’’ Branch said. “I need to be an extension of the coach on the floor.”
* Tonight’s game is the last before the Christmas break, and the Red Storm are playing host to its annual Toy Drive Night. … It also is Ugly Holiday Sweater Night, please dress accordingly. … Asheville (4-7) is led by sharpshooter Keith Hornsby, the son of music great Bruce Hornsby who is expected to attend the game. Hornsby’s hit, “A Playground Game,” is considered one of the best songs ever written about the city game.