Sampson picks Red Storm

Steve Lavin continues to make a major impact before even coaching a game for St. John’s.

On Thursday, five-star prospect JaKarr Sampson announced on ESPNU that he would be headed to Queens to play for the Red Storm.

The news was first reported by the NBE Basketball Report.

“I’m bringing basketball back to New York,” Sampson said. “I heard back in the day St. John’s had real good basketball and I’m ready to bring it back to St. John’s.”

Sampson, a 6-foot-7 forward from Ohio who will play for Brewster Academy (N.H) this season, chose the Johnnies over Tennessee, Louisville and Baylor.

Combined with the commitment of New York native Maurice Harkless a couple of weeks ago, as well as heavy interest from some of the nation’s top prospects, Sampson’s decision has Lavin and St. John’s back on the right track.