Ricardo Gathers, a 6-foot-8 forward from Reserve (La.) Riverside, says he and his family have talked to St. John’s about enrolling in 2011 instead of his original class of 2012.
“We kind of brought it up,” Gathers said Thursday by phone from the NBA Top 100 Camp in Virginia. “It would be a great situation for me to improve my game. I don’t see myself getting better in high school so it’s just something I want to do.”
St. John’s has nine new players committed for 2011 and Gathers would be the 10th. They have only one returning player in guard Malik Stith after freshman wing Dwyane Polee II transferred to San Diego State.
Still, Gathers said he would likely remain in the Class of 2012.
“Most likely 2012,” he said.
Gathers said he is considering St. John’s, Texas, Arizona and LSU, with St. John’s and Texas leading the way.
“St. John’s, they’re just showing the most love,” he said. “Kind of like they really want me. Coach Lav [Steve Lavin], he’s a good guy. He’s a got a great group of coaches right now. They’re the best situation besides Texas.”
Still, Arizona and LSU are also in the mix for Gathers, the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year who averaged 20.7 points, 16.2 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals during the 2010-11 season.
Asked when he’ll decide, Gathers said, “Most likely by the end of the summer.”
FREE THROWS
St. John’s announced it will visit Detroit Dec. 5 when that school plans to rename its court after former coach Dick Vitale. The game will be shown on ESPN2. St. John’s previously announced that the Red Storm will visit Kentucky on Thursday, Dec. 1 on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU as part of the SEC-BIG EAST Challenge. The Red Storm will also participate in the 2011 2K Sports Classic, a 12-team event where the Red Storm, Arizona, Texas A&M and Mississippi State host regional round games from Nov. 7-11. The four hosts then advance to the Championship Rounds, Nov. 17-18, at Madison Square Garden.
