Coming off a 19-15 season and a post-season run that ended with a loss to Boston College in the third round of the WNIT, there’s plenty of optimism at St. John’s. With a highly-touted freshmen class arriving and four starters returning, Red Storm faithful have reason to believe that an invitation to the NCAA tournament might not be that far down the road.
Head coach Kim Barnes Arico is excited about the makeup of her team. “I think we’re very talented; probably as talented a team as we’ve had here,” Barnes Arico said. “Experience and depth are going to be big for us. We have a great core of returning players. When you add a nationally-rated freshman class to the roster, we have a great mix of talent that will be able to compete in the greatest conference in the country. I’m really excited about this season."
Barnes Arico is hopeful that sophomore Da’Shena Stevens, the Big East Freshman of the Year in 2008-09, can pick up where she left off. The 6-foot-1 forward, who averaged 11.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while setting a school record for points by a freshman with 406, will be the go-to player that opponents try to stop. Stevens scored a career-high 27 points against top-ranked UCONN in a loss to the Huskies. Her solid freshman season opened eyes throughout the country as Da’Shena earned an invitation to the USA Basketball U-19 Trials.
Six-foot senior captain Joy McCorvey, 6.0 points, 5.4 rebounds per game, had the highest field goal percentage among the starters as a junior. McCorvey, who shot 56.5 percent from the field and was the team leader in steals, has earned numerous accolades off the court. An outstanding student, McCorvey was inducted into the President's Society in April 2009. The President's Society comprises students who combine scholarship, integrity and maturity with leadership skills. It is considered the highest honor a student at St. John's can receive.
Senior captain Kelly McManmon, one of the top shooters in the Big East, should have a big season in 2009-10. McManmon, who averaged 10.4 points per game while shooting 39.7 from three-point land, has hit 150 shots from beyond the arc in her career at St. John’s. She’s just 23 shy of the all-time school record for three-point field goals.
Back running the show for the Red Storm is junior Sky Lindsey. The 5-foot-11 point guard has started every game since arriving at St. John’s. Barnes Arico expects Lindsey, who will play both the point and two-guard positions, to have a big year. “The great thing about Sky is her experience at this level,” Barnes Arico said. “She runs the floor well and can knock down shots. Her experience and leadership will be very important to the freshmen class.”
Forward Coco Hart should also play a big role in what should be a very deep roster. The 6-foot-1 forward brings intensity, toughness and a lot of intangibles to the court. Hart, who averaged 19.7 minutes per game as a sophomore in Big East contests, is the first to hit the floor to go after a loose ball or to draw a charge.
Barnes Arico hopes the team’s experience will make a big difference in turning the Red Storm into a team that can win the close ones. “When we looked at the results of last year’s Big East games, we lost about four or five games by two points, one point, or in overtime,” she said. “We lost a bunch of tough games which went down to the wire. If we win some of those, I think we’re an NCAA tournament team.”
And then there’s the freshmen class. Barnes Arico went out and recruited five girls, four talented guards and 6-foot-3 center Jennifer “Big Love” Blanding. Blanding averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds per contest in her senior year at Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts. Blanding has good hands and can finish. Expect her to be an imposing presence in the paint.
Six-foot guard Amanda Burakoski, from The Mary Louis Academy in nearby Jamaica Estates, figures to be an outstanding outside threat for the Red Storm. Burakoski averaged 22 points per game as a senior, shooting an impressive 56 percent from the floor.
Point guard Nadirah McKenith will give Barnes Arico more flexibility in the backcourt. McKenith, who was rated the top point guard in New Jersey, scored 18.2 points per game as a senior.
Shenneika Smith, one of the top guard prospects in the nation, joins the Red Storm after a highly-successful career at St. Michael Academy. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 20 points and 11 boards in leading St. Michael to back-to-back Archdiocesan of New York Class AA titles.
Of all the newcomers, 5-foot-8 Eugenia McPherson might be the one ready to have the biggest impact on the floor of Carnesecca Arena. The Long Island product averaged 17.5 points, 4.9 assists and 5.8 steals in her final year at North Babylon High School. McPherson led the Lady Bulldogs to the Class AA state finals as a junior.
McPherson has her head coach excited. “Eugenia works so hard day-in, day-out,” Barnes Arico said. “She’s never satisfied with her performance. She’s not just a scorer, but rather a player who can do a little of everything. She’s going to be one of those players who will be difficult to keep off the court. She’s a great young lady to coach.”
With all of the talent assembled, Barnes Arico can see the rotation being nine or ten deep. Playing in a conference that has taken home six of the past 10 national titles, the depth can only be a plus. Unlike past years, when Barnes Arico goes to the bench, she will be bringing in players that are going to sustain the level of play or raise the level of play.
Barnes Arico believes in the growth of the program at St. John’s and the potential of competing with perennial conference powers. “The girls want to play teams like UCONN and Rutgers,” she said. “The girls want to come to a school like St. John’s and help to build something special. They want to come here and compete against the top teams in the country, and leave your mark. I think it’s why our freshman chose to come here. They believe they can make a difference.”
