Sports

St. John’s Harrison named top player in NY area

Just over one year ago, D’Angelo Harrison’s future was unclear.

The star guard had been suspended by coach Steve Lavin for unspecified conduct detrimental to the team, ending Harrison’s sophomore season and any chances of St. John’s returning to the NCAA Tournament.

Harrison was not even reinstated to the team when he spoke about the suspension for the first time at the All-Met College Basketball Awards in Tarrytown, but he was optimistic things would be different:

“I’ll be a different kind of guy and a way better player,” Harrison said. “This was about me becoming a better man and a better leader for the team.”

On Tuesday, it was declared no player in the New York area had been better, as the St. John’s junior guard was named the Haggerty Award winner, given to the best men’s basketball player in the area.

It is the 25th time a St. John’s player has won the award, first given out in 1936, with Harrison the first Red Storm recipient since Marcus Hatten in 2002.

On a young team, Harrison served as a leader and go-to guy in late-game situations, his anger and behavioral problems staying in the past. The Texas native spent time last offseason at the John Lucas Center and Wellness Program in Houston — where he will be again this summer — to work on those issues.

“I can’t thank the [coaching staff] enough for standing by me with all the troubles I had,” Harrison said Tuesday. “I put in the work and I made the best out of it I’m just glad to be here. I’m thrilled. I just feel completely different, like being two different guys.”

Harrison ranked fourth in the Big East in scoring (17.5 points) and became the Red Storm’s all-time leader in 3-pointers this season.

Joining Harrison on the first team were four seniors — LIU Brooklyn’s Jason Brickman, Manhattan’s George Beamon, Iona’s Sean Armand, Seton Hall’s Fuquan Edwin — and Stony Brook sophomore Jameel Warney.

JaKarr Sampson, who recently announced he will forgo his final two seasons at St. John’s and enter the NBA Draft, was named to the second team.

Manhattan coach Steve Masiello — still on leave while he completes his undergraduate degree during the offseason — was named Coach of the Year for the second time in his three seasons, but was not in attendance at the awards ceremony.

Fordham’s Jon Severe was named the Rookie of the Year.