St. John's Adds Lawrence

Norm Roberts took the St. John’s job with the idea of making sure the top players in New York understood that the Red Storm were to be option No. 1. On Wednesday night, the best available New Yorker exercised that option.

Eugene Lawrence, a 5-foot-11 point guard out of Brooklyn’s Lincoln High, committed to Norm Roberts and the St. John’s Red Storm. He joins forward Dexter Gray and guard Cedric Jackson as the initial three recruits for Roberts since taking over the reigns.

“I was undecided,” said Lawrence. “I didn’t know what to do. We talked it out and realized that St. John’s was the best place for me to move.”

Lawrence was considering attending prep school after fielding offers from UNC-Greensboro, Massachusetts, Central Connecticut State and Eastern Kentucky.

Last season, he averaged 14 points and 6 assists for the PSAL champions. He was the MVP of the championship game when Lincoln, which featured Sebastian Telfair, defeated Cardozo.

“Everybody wants to play in Madison Square Garden.”