Pelle adds to special class for St. Johns

For a while now, St. John's has been seen as the team to beat for Norvel Pelle. But, his early leader Washington was supposed to get a crack at him during an official visit this weekend.

Unfortunately for Lorenzo Romar and the Huskies, the visit never happened as Pelle pulled the trigger for Steve Lavin and St. John's.

During an appearance on national television, the 6-foot-10 center from Los Angeles (Calif.) Price indicated that he had faith in Lavin and the class he's put together at St. John's.

A five-star prospect who is ranked No. 19 overall in the class of 2011, Pelle has as much potential as any big man in the class. He's a high level athlete -- even by NBA standards -- runs the floor, has tremendous lingth and impacts the game on the glass, as a shot blocker and as an interior scorer when motivated.

Of course, he also goes through spats of inactivity and he must add weight.

Looking at the bigger picture, it's just another feather in what is becoming one incredibly impressive recruiting he address during coach Steve Lavin's first year in New York. The addition of Pelle will move St. John's into the No. 2 spot for early recruiting classes and he joins four-star prospects D'Angelo Harrison, Jakarr Sampson, Maurice Harkless and Dominique Pointer. Junior college freshman Nurideen Lindsey is a strong candidate to be elevated to the four-star level from his current three-star status.