Mullin On WFAN: Top NYC Recruits Would Thrive At St. John's
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Chris Mullin has a message for the best basketball players in New York City: stay and ride the Red Storm to stardom.
St. John's new head coach acknowledged Tuesday on WFAN's "Boomer & Carton" show that getting out of Gotham could be good for some players. But he's hoping other top prospects -- like himself, a Brooklyn native who became the program's all-time scoring leader, an Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer -- will be drawn to the hometown hardwood.
"I think you have to find the right fit. It's not right for everybody," Mullin told co-hosts Craig Carton and Boomer Esiason. "I was recruited by Duke, Kentucky and Louisville, and I wanted to stay home. I wanted to play in front of my family, I wanted to play at Madison Square Garden, and I wanted to play for Coach (Lou) Carnesecca -- and all of those other doors opened up.
"There are some kids that should leave New York for different reasons. But there are also a select few that need to stay here, stay on the big stage, become stars and go on their merry way, and then come back and always be welcome in New York City."
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Mullin said he's navigating "a whole new landscape" after spending his pro career since 1985 -- both as a player and executive -- mostly on the West Coast.
His pitch is already paying dividends. Two of St. John's best players once-reportedly on the outs are coming back, and coveted 6-foot-11 center Yankuba Sima is among three early commitments, according to the New York Post. Mullin has also added touted recruiters Barry Rohrssen and Matt Abdelmassih to his staff.
"St. John's is a great university," Mullin said. "We're going to give them everything they can handle on the court and, like I said, post-career, not only in New York City but throughout the world, really, because of St. John's, I've been able to tap into that and I want to open up those doors for them."
Mullin was hired to replace Steve Lavin, who parted ways with the Red Storm after five years and two NCAA Tournament appearances. St. John's hasn't had a March Madness win since 2000.