Losses Keep Mounting at St. John's

St. John's suffered two more losses this week. That's how bad things have gotten for the Red Storm. They're still losing in April.

The latest losses for Norm Roberts' squad: not games, but players.

Three-point shooter Larry Wright and reserve guard Mike Cavataio are the latest players to defect from Norm Roberts' program.

Cavataio will likely seek a program where he can get more playing time, but the reason for Wright's departure is less clear. The school's spin is that he's leaving due to a family illness, but Wright told the New York Post that he's hoping for a chance to win a bigger role at an ACC or Big 10 school. The ACC mention puts the Red Storm's cover story in serious doubt -- there aren't too many ACC teams within shouting distance of Wright's home town of Saginaw, Michigan.

Roberts came to St. John's with the reputation of a terrific recruiter after his work as an assistant to Bill Self. But his performance in team-building in Queens has been just awful. Consider this tally, compiled by Roger Rubin of the New York Daily News:

During his four years at St. John's, coach Norm Roberts has recruited 22 players. Ten have transferred, been dismissed or left. Four of the six recruits in his first class departed to play elsewhere. Every member of his third recruiting class - Qu'rraan Calhoun, Avery Patterson, Derwin Kitchen and now Wright - will not finish with St. John's.

In late February, SJU athletic director Chris Monasch announced that Roberts will be back next season. It will be interesting to see how many fans decide to return.