Cheesehead
04-21-2016, 01:03 PM
For the second time in just over 24 hours, St. John's has reeled in a high-major transfer, as Justin Simon committed to the Red Storm on Thursday morning.
"First of all, you're playing for a Hall of Fame NBA player that surrounds himself with an incredible staff that is all about getting their guys better," Simon told ESPN. "I also feel like I can be myself there and reach my full college basketball potential."
Simon, who was ranked No. 9 among the top available transfers by ESPN.com, visited St. John's and coach Chris Mullin over the weekend. He also took a trip to Oklahoma State earlier this month. Providence, New Mexico and Pacific were among the other schools in the mix.
A 6-foot-5 point guard, Simon averaged 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game during his one season at Arizona. He saw an increase in minutes early in the Pac-12 season when Allonzo Trier was injured, but he played in just four of the Wildcats' final 11 games. Simon was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school, ranking No. 37 in the ESPN 100 for the 2015 class.
"I feel like I can become the player I know I can be and they can help me reach that," Simon said.
Simon will sit out the 2016-17 season and then have three years of eligibility.
St. John's added Michigan State transfer Marvin Clark on Wednesday and will now have two impact prospects sitting out next season.
The Red Storm aren't done yet, though. Arkansas State graduate transfer Anthony Livingston is expected to visit St. John's later this month. Mullin and his staff have zeroed in on Livingston to shore up the frontcourt next season.
"First of all, you're playing for a Hall of Fame NBA player that surrounds himself with an incredible staff that is all about getting their guys better," Simon told ESPN. "I also feel like I can be myself there and reach my full college basketball potential."
Simon, who was ranked No. 9 among the top available transfers by ESPN.com, visited St. John's and coach Chris Mullin over the weekend. He also took a trip to Oklahoma State earlier this month. Providence, New Mexico and Pacific were among the other schools in the mix.
A 6-foot-5 point guard, Simon averaged 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game during his one season at Arizona. He saw an increase in minutes early in the Pac-12 season when Allonzo Trier was injured, but he played in just four of the Wildcats' final 11 games. Simon was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school, ranking No. 37 in the ESPN 100 for the 2015 class.
"I feel like I can become the player I know I can be and they can help me reach that," Simon said.
Simon will sit out the 2016-17 season and then have three years of eligibility.
St. John's added Michigan State transfer Marvin Clark on Wednesday and will now have two impact prospects sitting out next season.
The Red Storm aren't done yet, though. Arkansas State graduate transfer Anthony Livingston is expected to visit St. John's later this month. Mullin and his staff have zeroed in on Livingston to shore up the frontcourt next season.