STORM’S COMING: How JaKarr Sampson (far left) meshes with newcomer Orlando Sanchez and how D’Angelo Harrison responds to Steve Lavin’s (far right) tutelage are two of the questions facing St. John’s this season. (Paul J. Bereswill)
St. John’s, a team with serious NCAA Tournament expectations, embarks today on a two-week European trip that could forge a cohesive unit determined to return the Red Storm to glory.
Or it could expose all the possible pitfalls teams with plenty of talent and not enough minutes can face.
The Post looks at the pressing questions coach Steve Lavin will seek to answer as the Johnnies head to Paris, Rome and Barcelona for five games against pro teams.
Make no mistake, this is the season the fourth-year St. John’s coach has been pointing this program toward. With 10 scholarship players (God’sgift Achiuwa redshirted), led by Big East Rookie of the Year JaKarr Sampson, returning from last season’s squad, Lavin adds highly touted forward Orlando Sanchez and prize recruit point guard Rysheed Jordan.
The Johnnies, who went 17-16 last season, are ridiculously athletic and deep. They do not have a skilled banger inside and are counting on Harvard transfer Max Hooper to address woeful 3-point shooting.
But most coaches would take this roster in a heartbeat. Here are five questions that could give Lavin heartburn:
1. Can Jordan be the answer at point guard?
Phil Greene IV is a warrior and Jamal Branch is an impressive passer, but each has had injury issues and neither scares an opponent with his outside shooting. D’Angelo Harrison is much more effective off the ball.
Lavin knew he needed a big-time point guard, and he made Jordan, a true Philadelphia playmaker, his priority. Lavin and the returning players will have to learn to trust him. And he will have to earn their trust.
Can a freshman point guard be trusted with the ball in his hands late in a tight NCAA Tournament game?
“In terms of point-guard play, that ability to understand time and score and situations, tempo and our system and style of play and how to orchestrate things and help his teammates play at a higher level. He has to make his teammates better but also have the gift to improvise and to be able to shot-make and play-make instinctively and within what we’re trying to do,’’ Lavin said. “A marriage of his talents with our style of play is what we’re hoping we see as we go along this season.”
2. What if Sanchez proves worthy of taking the last shot?
Sampson is the most talented returning player, but there are whispers Sanchez, a sleek 6-foot-9 forward, is even better.
A season-long campaign by St. John’s to get Sanchez one year of college eligibility paid off when the NCAA cleared him in late February. Sampson and/or Harrison were the late-game, go-to guys.
Sanchez might get caught up in knowing he has one season to catch the eye of scouts. Can Sampson and Sanchez co-exist?
“[Sanchez] brings a lot to the table,’’ Sampson said. “He brings defense to the team, shot-blocking. He’s like a point forward, he can bring up the ball, he can shoot from the perimeter, he’s got a nice 3-point shot.“He can pretty much do it all. He can find people in transition. He can rebound the ball, push it on the break and find people. He’s a high-energy type of player.”
3. Can Harrison be counted on as a positive force?
Lavin suspended Harrison on March 1 for what sources said was conduct detrimental to the team. Harrison missed the final four regular-season games, the Big East Conference Tournament and both NIT games.
Lavin left the door wide open for Harrison’s return, assuming the 6-foot-3 shooting guard did some serious maturing. Lavin said Harrison has exceeded every criteria and has been welcomed back.
Harrison is not a bad apple by any stretch, but he is impertinent and can be a distraction. He almost surely will not lead the team in minutes played as he did last season.
“I wanted to play for the team and staff, but I told them right then and there that I wanted to stay,” Harrison said, “and I’m back now just looking forward to having a great season with these guys.’’
4. Can Hooper be the zone breaker?
When the Johnnies get out and run, they are breathtaking. When they’re forced into a half-court game, they’re an eyesore. Last season, St. John’s was 338th out of the 345 teams in 3-point shooting, which is why every opponent played zone.
Harrison can shoot from Chinatown. Marc-Antoine Bourgault was third on the team with 22 3s, but it’s hard to name one that changed a game and he made just 29.3 percent.
The Johnnies hope Hooper can do for them what Luke Hancock did for champion Louisville last season. Hooper has put up some unfathomable numbers in shooting drills. But that’s in drills.
“Max doesn’t miss when he’s open,’’ Greene said. “He’s a hard worker. He stays after practice, he comes before, at night, he’s always in the gym.
“You always have to have a hand on Max or he’s going to embarrass you. He’s a sniper.”
5. How does Lavin keep everyone happy?
We’ve yet to even mention center Chris Obekpa, who led the nation with four blocked shots per game, and swingman Sir’Dominic Pointer.
No player in the nation can change a game on the defensive end more than Obekpa. And Lavin loves the energy and reckless abandon with which Pointer plays.
NCAA rules allow for 10 practices prior to the trip. NCAA rules do not permit Lavin to play with more than one ball.
“Coach is going to play the best guys,’’ Pointer said. “Whoever is working hard in practice is going to get the most time.“We’re not worried about minutes, we’re just worried about winning games. Whoever the best is will get on the floor, and that’s it. Everyone else just has to work hard to get on the floor.”
6. How does the team handle expectations?
Lavin almost had this phrase printed on his business card last season: We’re the youngest team in the nation and the youngest in school history. That kept expectations in check.
He won’t have that luxury this season. This team is talented, deep and confident. But no player on the roster has won an NCAA Tournament game.
“Well, first, it’s what we’ve been working toward,’’ Lavin said. “When we came here three-plus years ago now, this was the goal, to get our roster and our personnel at a level where we felt we could be more competitive game to game and year to year.
“We’re further down the road and with that comes expectations, which is a good sign. We’re now at a point where we want those expectations.’’
St. John’s has what it wants. The first Elite Eight appearance since 1999 is possible. What happens in Europe could go a long way to making that happen.