Maurice Harkless — a six-foot-eight-inch forward from Queens described by Steve Lavin at the time of his signing as “the best player in New York City” — played last season for Connecticut’s South Kent School, and played most of his AAU ball for the New York Panthers. But he’s also played a couple of games for the New York Gauchos, where current St. John’s director of basketball operations Moe Hicks served in an administrative role. Via the Post: “According to recently adopted rule 11.4.2, a college that employs an individual associated with a prospective student-athlete in any athletics department non-coaching staff position can’t recruit that player for a period of two years.” St. John’s is working with the NCAA to confirm Harkless is eligible to play for the Red Storm — the school is making the case that Hicks never coached Harkless — but if Hicks is determined to be an IAWP (an individual associated with a player), Harkless wouldn’t be able to play for the Johnnies. That said, they’re confident they won’t have trouble getting final clearance. Said Mark Fratto, the school’s senior associate athletics director for communication: “St. John’s works attentively to be in compliance the NCAA legislation at all times, and we have been diligent with all of our incoming men’s basketball student-athletes.”
Top recruit may not be eligible to play for St. John’s [NYP]
Will top-40 St. John’s recruit be eligible? [College Basketball Nation Blog/ESPN]