Marcus LoVett Jr. won’t play for St. John’s this season


http://nypost.com/2015/12/31/marcus-lovett-jr-wont-play-for-st-johns-this-season/

By Zach Braziller
December 31, 2015 | 12:42am 
 
St. John’s fans will have to wait until next season to see Marcus LoVett Jr. in action.

The talented point guard from Chicago — the only true point guard on the Red Storm roster — has opted not to pursue litigation against the NCAA after being ruled a partial qualifier, meaning he only can practice, a source told The Post.

The 6-foot-1 LoVett, a four-star recruit ranked among the top 50 of incoming freshmen nationally, was initially ruled a partial qualifier and subsequent appeals were turned down. Nevertheless, after extensive dialogue with the NCAA, St. John’s was under the impression that if LoVett fared well in his first semester classes, he would be cleared. But despite LoVett “doing everything he was asked to do,” the source said, that didn’t happen.

A nagging knee injury that would have kept him out a few more weeks if cleared played into the decision not to pursue the matter further, the source said.  
LoVett attended three high schools (Providence High and San Gabriel Academy near Los Angeles and Morgan Park High in Chicago) in four years and was behind entering his senior year, but made up the credits by taking night and summer classes through Morgan Park this past year.

The NCAA questioned the amount of work he made up, and therefore felt he didn’t meet its requirements, a source said.

LoVett remains committed to being part of the basketball program, and will be part of next year’s reinforcements that also include four-star Brooklyn guard Shamorie Ponds, junior college star Bashir Ahmed of The Bronx and transfer forward Tariq Owens.

Without LoVett, turnovers have been a major issue for St. John’s — the Red Storm average 14.7 per game, though just 12 over the last two contests — with freshman guard Federico Mussini being asked to play out of position at point guard.

St. John’s (7-6) is hopeful it will get back senior guard Felix Balamou (foot tendinitis) for Thursday’s Big East opener at Carnesecca Arena against Creighton, a source said. 
Balamou, averaging 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in seven games, has practiced this week, and will be a game-time decision, though he is expected to be available, after missing the last 3 games.

Though the Red Storm enter conference play having lost 3 straight games, they are coming off a solid effort in a 75-61 loss to No. 24 South Carolina at Mohegan Sun, and did receive very good recruiting news last Saturday, with the verbal commitment of Bashir Ahmed.

The Creighton game — first-year coach Chris Mullin’s initial Big East encounter as a coach — is an important one. St. John’s needs to snap the recent losing skid and, considering the schedule that follows (with games against No. 12 Providence, No. 6 Xavier, Marquette, Georgetown and ninth-ranked Butler), it would behoove the Johnnies to start strong.

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