Lindsey’s transfer deals St. John’s freshman class another hit

Good thing St. John’s secured such a massive recruiting class. Only half of them are playing.

Point guard Nurideen Lindsey will leave at semester’s end and transfer, according to the New York Daily News. Daniel Martin of JohnnyJungle.com says Lindsey is focused on making an NBA roster, but Lindsey later issued this statement:

“I came to St. John’s for a couple of reasons,” Lindsey said in a prepared statement. “One was to be close to my mom, whose health has been up and down due to some past experiences. The second was to play for Coach Lav. In both instances it has not worked out how I envisioned.”

He also told CBSSports.com: “My intentions are to transfer to a Division-I school. I want to be a college basketball player.”

The move comes as a fairly big surprise given his prominent role for the Johnnies. He’s their third-leading scorer (11.8 ppg) and averages 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, all in 30 minutes a night. They needed that production, too. The NCAA ruled fellow freshmen Jakarr Sampson, Amir Garrett and Norvel Pelle ineligible in mid-September.

He was one of the young team’s bright spots early on, but has struggled lately. In the last two games against Kentucky and Detroit, he scored just five points and finished with 11 turnovers.

So why make the move? The Daily News story offered this background reference:

Lindsey comes from tough circumstances in the West Philadelphia neighborhood where he grew up. Two of his brothers were murdered. After the his younger brother, Halim, was shot in 2009, Lindsey spiraled into depression. He did not play organized basketball for a little less than two years before enrolling at Redlands and reviving his career.

Necessity may be driving this decision, not just poor play or unhappiness.

Related stories:

• Despite tough losses, young St. John’s ‘getting there’
• Don’t leave a cell phone around Steve Lavin during a presser

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