POINT OF NO RETURN
Guard LoVett leaves SJU to pursue pro career
The strange, circuitous Marcus LoVett era has come to a close at St. John’s. He was on campus for parts of three years, played just one full season, and is now headed home to California to prepare for a professional career.
St. John’s announced Saturday morning the 6-foot guard is leaving the program to focus on rehabbing the injured left knee that has kept him out since Thanksgiving weekend. A source said LoVett, a redshirt sophomore, didn’t enroll for the spring semester, so his departure won’t negatively impact the school’s Academic Progress Rate (APR).
“Right now I feel it is best for me to return home, get healthy and explore all options for my basketball future,” LoVett said in a statement. “It has always been a goal of mine to play professional basketball, so I am committed to working hard to position myself for the best available opportunity. I enjoyed my experience at St. John’s and appreciate all the support from Red Storm fans.”
LoVett leaves the program with two open scholarships for next year. A source said St. John’s will be active in the grad-transfer market, and could still add a high school prospect as well. But the program doesn’t necessarily have to bring in a guard. Quinnipiac sitout transfer Mikey Dixon, the MAAC Rookie of the Year last season, and incoming four-star guard Greg Williams from Louisiana will be significant additions.
LoVett arrived at St. John’s in coach Chris Mullin’s first season, but was ruled a partial qualifier by the NCAA Eligibility Center, and was only able to practice. He teamed with Shamorie Ponds a year ago to form one of the most potent backcourts in the country, averaging 15.9 points and 3.8 assists per game. They were supposed to lead St. John’s to a postseason berth this year, but LoVett suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee Nov. 26 against Central Florida, and has been out since, leaving the program with eight scholarship players. St. John’s dropped its first 11 Big East games, eight of which were by seven points or less, before this recent four-game winning streak spearheaded by Ponds has begun to turn the season around.
At the time of the injury, St. John’s listed LoVett as day-to-day, and his status stayed that way until Jan. 10, when his father, Marcus LoVett Sr., tweeted he son wouldn’t be playing again this year, surprising members of the program.
LoVett Sr. told The Post at the time: “Just a hurt knee. That’s all. Not the end of the world.” But he also strangely said, “This is not personal towards anyone.”
LoVett was expected to have a one-on-one workout with Mullin that day, but after working with a trainer earlier in the day, complained of soreness and swelling. Since that announcement, he had kept his distance from the team, not sitting on the bench for home games.
LoVett, who was given Mullin’s No. 20 jersey this season, was averaging 14.9 points and 2.1 steals in seven games, six of them St. John’s wins, before the injury. He underwent a pair of MRI exams, both of which revealed the sprain, and was told by doctors in early December he could test the knee in practice, sources said. However, he steadfastly told coaches he wasn’t ready and remained sidelined.
After last season, LoVett weighed going pro, but opted to return. History almost certainly won’t be repeating itself.