QUEENS — Posh Alexander may undertake more responsibility than any freshman guard in the Big East this season and that’s just fine with his head coach.
“He’s tailor made for what we want to do,” St. John’s coach Mike Anderson said of the 6-foot Alexander following Tuesday’s practice in Queens. “He’s got that winning mentality.”
That’s instantly obvious after watching Alexander compete in practice.
Built like a fullback, the broad shouldered point guard is set to be an impact addition for the Red Storm in Anderson’s second year and could quickly become the face of St. John’s program.
Following the departures of both Mustapha Heron and LJ Figueroa after last season, the door is open for other players to come to the forefront and emerge. Alexander’s leadership skills, competitive nature, and unselfishness make him a prime candidate.
“He wants to make everyone else better,” Anderson added. “He’s very unselfish.”
St. John’s will need him to play beyond his years to be a factor in a league that features two teams — Villanova and Creighton — who are currently ranked in the Top-10 of the ROTHSTEIN 45.
Anderson should have more depth than he did last season when the Red Storm finished 17-15.
St. John’s returns six players — Rasheem Dunn, Greg Williams, Julian Champagnie, Marcellus Earlington, Josh Roberts, and David Caraher — who averaged double-figure minutes a year ago and also added a potential starter in George Washington grad transfer Arnaldo Toro. JUCO imports Vince Cole and Isaih Moore should also be key rotation pieces.
The key to the whole operation though, looks like Alexander.
“He’s got great instincts,” Anderson said of Alexander. “And I love instinctive players.”
