St. John’s landed a verbal commitment Wednesday from physical 6-foot-5, 235-pound forward Marcellus Earlington of Don Bosco Prep (N.J.), making him the third forward who will join the 2018-19 team, along with recruit Josh Roberts and South Carolina transfer Sedee Keita.
Earlington was a highly regarded football prospect for the powerhouse New Jersey program, a four-star tight end with scholarship offers from the likes of Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan State, Louisville and Virginia Tech. But basketball was his passion, and in November he made it known his intention to leave football behind.
“It’s what I always dreamed of doing,” Earlington said. “Football came out of nowhere. I was playing it to stay in shape. The offers came fast and overwhelmed me. But at heart, I was always a basketball player.”
His recruitment took off from there, with offers from programs in the MAAC, Patriot League and Atlantic 10. Tennessee and Boston College were also involved. St. John’s noticed Earlington during the AAU season last summer and saw him multiple times this winter before bringing him on an official visit over the weekend.
One Division I college coach familiar with Earlington described him as raw and undersized, but also said he’s physical and plays hard. The coach warned against expecting too much too soon because of all the time he’s spent playing football.
“He’s a very physical, skilled kid,” Don Bosco coach Kevin Diverio said in a phone interview. “He can handle the ball, can shoot 3s. His best attribute is his rebounding, especially on the offensive end. He really carves out space.”
One concern would be Earlington’s height. Most Big East forwards and wings will be taller than him. He didn’t seem worried, though.
“I’m up for the challenge,” he said. “I’ve played against bigger players all my life.”
St. John’s coaching staff envisions Earlington, who is averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds this season, as a position-less player who can defend on the perimeter and in the paint, someone who brings toughness off the bench. They also believe Earlington dedicating himself to basketball will pay off immediately. Diverio agreed. Earlington had been playing football for half the year.
“He hasn’t been able to fully commit to doing some of the little things that will make him a better player, even changing his body, [getting] leaner,” Divero said. “That commitment to 12 months a year of basketball is going to make a difference in his game.”