By Joseph Staszewski
St. John’s made an important addition to its roster after a number of player departures in recent weeks.
The Red Storm got the commitment of 6-foot-11 Christ the King center Adonis Delarosa yesterday during a news conference at the Middle Village school. Delarosa chose Coach Steve Lavin and St. John’s over Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Miami and Alabama.
He is the first New York City player to head to the Jamaica Estates school since former Forest Hills star Maurice Harkless in 2011. Delarosa, dressed in a St. John’s T-shirt and baseball cap, felt strongly about staying close to home.
“There is nothing better than playing and putting on for your city and also you get to play at the Garden,” Delarosa said.
His older brother Joey is also enrolled at St. John’s after transferring from Florida International, where he played three season. Joey Delarosa currently is not part of the St. John’s basketball program. Adonis Delarosa said it gives him someone to lean on as he embarks on the next part of his life.
Delarosa moved his announcement up from April 18 at the Jordan Brand Classic because his family has bigger things to be concerned about. His 24-year-old sister Cindy, who lives in the Dominican Republic, is battling leukemia. He and his family plan on traveling to visit her.
“I just wanted everything to be over with,” Delarosa said.
He is St. John’s’ first commitment for its 2014 recruiting class. The Red Storm still have five scholarships available after the transfer of center Chris Obekpa, shooting guard Max Hooper and wing JaKarr Sampson, who declared his intention to enter the NBA draft. Delarosa said the player movement at St. John’s and its lack of size didn’t influence his decision.
The Red Storm being seemingly a win from reaching the NCAA tournament, despite a disappointing season last year, has him excited for the future. Christ the King Coach Joe Arbitello believes Delarosa can help St. John’s right away if he can keep himself in shape and get stronger. The CK center lost 100 pounds his freshman year at Christ the King.
“I think over the summer when he just gets his body in a little bit better shape and he gets a little stronger, yeah, I think he can help them right away,” Arbitello said.
Delarosa, an All-Queens first team selection by TimesLedger Newspapers, leaves quite a career behind at Christ the King. He won consecutive CHSAA Class AA intersectional titles and two straight state Federation crowns. Delarosa averaged 12 points and 12 rebounds this season for CK and had the game-winning three-point play in the CHSAA semifinals against rival Cardinal Hayes. He believes he gives the Red Storm something the Big East school lacked last year.
“They didn’t have an inside presence who they can throw the ball to and who can score,” Delarosa said, predicting his role at St. John’s. “Next year they will with me on the team.”
He is happy to have the recruiting process over and his new school will keep him close to his family. Delarosa expects his new St. John’s community and its fanbase to support him.
“You know you are going to be home. You know you are going to have New York City behind you,” he said.
Teammate Andre Walker sat alongside him and picked Loyola University in Maryland over Boston University and Niagara. Walker was told to be patient, as his college offers were scarce early on. Loyola was the first to offer and has been the most loyal to Walker throughout the process.
“Every coach loved me there,” Walker said.
Christ the King certainly enjoyed having him on its side the last two years after he transferred from St. Anthony’s (L.I.). Walker was the major reason why CK had its playoff success.
He tallied 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the CHSAA final against Loughlin and dropped in 25 points vs. Long Island Lutheran in the state Federation championship game. Those performances brought attention from more colleges, but that didn’t waiver his feelings about Loyola.
“A couple of bigger schools started to come around for him and he was smart enough to stay with the school that was with him from the beginning,” Arbitello said.
Notes: Royals football players Deyshaun Tucker is headed to Stony Brook and Kamran Raja will be attending West Virginia State University.
CK basketball player Shannon Barrett committed to Molloy College.
