Player and Rookie of the Week [week of 1/7 to 1/13]

This post should have been sent out yesterday, but better late than never.

Player of the Week:

C.J. Fair

The Syracuse Orange have looked rather unimpressive in their last couple of games, needing late surges in the second half to pull away from both Providence and Villanova. And while Michael Carter-Williams is probably the team’s most important player in terms of being successful, it is C.J. Fair that has been the team’s best player. He leads the team in rebounding; pulling down 7.1 boards per game, and is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.8 per contest. Like I wrote about Brandon Triche in this same section last week, Fair is far from flashy. From time-to-time you actually forget about him on the court. But the Junior forward has become more aggressive this year in terms of getting to the rim to throw down powerful dunks or draw contact to get to the line. His play down the stretch last week was instrumental in the Orange emerging victorious in both contests (he finished with 23 pts/11 rebs against PC and 22 pts/5 rebs against Nova), thus earning him Player of the Week honors.

Rookie of the Week:

Chris Obekpa

The Red Storm lost both of their games last week – a tough fought loss to Rutgers in which the Johnnies got the final look and a blowout loss to a volatile Georgetown team. However, history was made during the beat down from Georgetown as freshman shot-blocking sensation Chris Obekpa broke the single season record for blocks at St. John’s (he had six in that game). Obekpa already has 82 blocks, breaking the record of 76 that was set in the 1985-86 season by Walter Berry. And with only half the season in the books, he should set a lofty bar that will be difficult to touch any time in the near future. And he continues to hone in his craft as he has cut down on his fouls while increasing his minutes played as the season has progressed. Now he just needs to improve his offensive game. [If you would like to read more about the record and the pace he is on click here.]

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Obekpa Blocks His Way to History

Obekpa with a rejection

The St. John's record for blocks in a season was set during the 1985-86 campaign by Walter Berry; recording 76 swats in 36 games (an average of 2.1 per).  Berry went on to win the Big East Player of the Year and the John Wooden Awards that season as he also averaged 23 points and 11.1 rebounds per game en route to leading the Johnnies to a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

That record lasted 27 seasons, as it has now been broken a mere 16 games into the 2012-13 season by shot-blocking sensation Chris Obekpa. 

Obekpa (6 foot 9) has already accumulated 82 blocks in the young season, averaging 5.1 per game. 

What does that suggest?  Well that St. John’s has never even had a whiff of a true shot blocker, and that Obekpa is really good at the art of rejection. 

 Plenty of schools lined up to land the rim protector, but the 78th ranked recruit and 16th ranked center in the 2012 class by ESPN was snagged by Coach Lavin.

“He is as gifted as anybody I have ever seen in terms of blocking shots,” Lavin said.  “With his timing, he is a game-changer.  As a coach, you have to think about what you’re going to do against a specialist like that.”  These statements were made by Lavin during the summer.   He has got to be pleased to see his expectations come to fruition.

A freshman, Obekpa has played in all 16 games and has recorded multiple blocks in every game except one, a one block performance against Charleston in the second game of the season. 

While his offensive fundamentals are a bit raw, they continue to improve.  However, that was no surprise entering the season.   The book on the incoming freshman was that while he is a bit challenged offensively, he is a high-energy, long, versatile and athletic big man, with incredible instincts. 

This is exactly what has played out in the stat book thus far, as Obekpa has more games with double digit blocks than double digit points; 1 to 0.  He put on a spectacle December 8^th, blocking a whopping 11 shots versus Fordham.   

He not only leads the Big East in total blocks and blocks per game, but he tops both lists in the country.

The Big East record for blocks in a season is currently held by Alonzo Mourning.  Mourning finished with 169 blocks in 34 games during his 1988-89 season at Georgetown.

St. John’s currently has 14 regular season games remaining plus at least one Big East Tournament game.  With what we know and given Obekpa’s averages so far he is on pace to finish with 158 blocks in 31 games.

That currently comes up short of Mourning’s mark, but Alonzo compiled that total with three more games played.  The Johnnies have the potential to win one or more Big East Tournament games and they could very well earn a berth into a post-season tournament. 

Given that - Mourning’s record could be next in line to be swatted by ‘Oblockpa ‘.

[David Robinson has the all-time record for blocks in a season with 207.  He accomplished that in 35 games played and averaged 5.91 per contest.]

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #9 St. John's Red Storm

Previewing all 15 teams in the Big East from #15 to #1

By:  Shane McCarthy

Last year the Red Storm were extremely young, had a very short rotation and were without their fearless leader.  This year the Johnnies are still young, albeit with a year of experience, have a deeper bench and most importantly, have Coach Lavin back.

Who’s Back:

D’Angelo Harrison –G– Soph – 35.4 Min, 16.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 apg

Phil Greene –G– Soph – 31.3 Min, 7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.9 apg

God’sgift Achiuwa –F– Senior – 29.9 Min, 9.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.3 apg

Sir’Dominic Pointer –G/F– Soph – 29.8 Min, 6.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg

Amir Garrett –F– Soph  - 26.9 Min, 7.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.3 apg

Incoming Recruits:

Chris Obekpa - [Center] – 6 foot 8, 225

ESPN’s 78^th ranked player and 16^th ranked Center

Rivals.com’s 58^th ranked player and 15^th ranked Center

JaKarr Sampson – [Forward] – 6 foot 8, 209

Felix Balamou – [Shooting Guard] – 6 foot 4, 185

Christian Jones – [Forward] – 6 foot 7, 228

Incoming Transfers:

Jamal Branch – [Point Guard] – 6 foot 3, 172

In the class of 2011 Jamal was ESPN’s 51^st ranked player and Rivals.com’s 65^th ranked player.  He was one of the top point guards in his class and a very good defender.  Jamal is transferring from Texas A&M and will not be eligible to play this season until the second semester. 

Orlando Sanchez – [Power Forward] – 6 foot 9, 205

Transferring from Monroe College, Orlando provides the Johnnies with an interior presence who will contribute on both ends of the floor. 

Marco Bourgault – [Guard/Forward] – 6 foot 6, 210

Marco, a transfer from Monroe College, averaged 10.8 PPG last season and is eligible immediately.

Who’s Out:  Moe Harkless

Outlook:

It goes without saying that last season was a difficult year for St. John’s.  Undoubtedly, a lot had to do with the absence of Steve Lavin.  These teams spend countless hours every day together and become family-like.  Whenever a member has to go through something as serious as cancer, it is going to have an effect on the whole.

Fortunately, Coach Lavin has been declared cancer free and he is in the process of regaining his strength and stamina.  The game of basketball has to be put into perspective, but having Lavin back on the bench makes St. John’s a better team.

Last year’s normal rotation was primarily five freshmen and a junior.  A six or seven man rotation that heavily involves that many freshmen is a difficult recipe for success.  St. John’s had a good recruiting class, but it wasn’t Kentucky good. And even without their coach, they still remained competitive in the conference by winning six games.

Although the Storm will be missing the Big East Rookie of the Year, Moe Harkless, they should be improved.  This team is still very young, but the four sophomores returning were all given a large serving of playing time and valuable experience last year.  That should help; as should the new comers.

Guard play was solid last year, and should remain that way with the return of Harrison (St. John’s leading scorer last year and 7^th in the conference) and Green, to go along with the arrival of Balamou, Bourgault and Branch.  Branch is a true point guard, a role the Red Storm lack, but he will not be eligible until the second semester.

Conversely, it was the front court where St. John’s struggled.  However, the influx of Obekpa, Sampson, Jones and Sanchez should help mightily. Obekpa was a great land, and he could develop into one of the best defensive big men in the Big East.

This is another highly touted recruiting class for Coach Lavin, but as already stated, this team remains young - probably one of the youngest in the nation.  However, the difference this year is that there are formidable options to come off the bench and provide quality play, a serious detriment to last year’s squad.  But the most important difference from last year: Coach Lavin is back. 

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac