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St. John’s basketball: Rising SEC program coming after top NJ prospect

By Kevin Connelly

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: The Texas A&M Aggies logo on a pair of shorts during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Providence Friars at the Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Aggies are pursing a top St. John's basketball prospect (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: The Texas A&M Aggies logo on a pair of shorts during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Providence Friars at the Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Aggies are pursing a top St. John's basketball prospect (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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A fast-rising SEC program is making its pitch to a top New Jersey prospect that is high on the priority list for the St. John’s basketball team.

Texas A&M will shortly be one of the premier basketball programs in the SEC after the school’s hire of former Marquette and Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams.

In his first year in College Station, Williams led the Aggies to a 16-14 record (10-8 SEC) and like any new head coach, Buzz Williams is looking for that recruit to anchor the program for the foreseeable future.

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In his latest attempt to bring more talent to Texas A&M, Williams and his staff have offered Kyle Cuffe Jr. of Blair Academy.

Cuffe Jr., a top Class of 2022 recruit and high priority for St. John’s, is a Blairstown, New Jersey native and the son of former St. John’s star Kyle Cuffe Sr.

After an explosive sophomore season, Cuffe Jr, has received much more attention and is bursting on the national scene.

Including Texas A&M, the 6-foot-1 guard has also picked up offers from Pittsburgh and UCLA in recent weeks.

Connecticut, Hofstra, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Stony Brook and others have offered Kyle Cuffe Jr. while Syracuse has shown interest in the guard but has not officially extended an offer.

ALSO READ: St. John’s continues offer spree to New Jersey prospects

Cuffe Jr. is ranked as the No. 57 player in the sophomore class, No. 5 combo guard, and No. 1 recruit in the state of New Jersey, according to the 247 Sports Composite Rankings.

ALSO READ: St. John’s makes final cutdown of schools for prized recruit

Kyle Cuffe Sr. played at St. John’s from 2000-2004, averaging 8.1 points per game in his college career, posted a career best 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest in his senior season.

ALSO READ: Big East foes making push for extremely local recruit

St. John’s currently does not have any commitments from the Class of 2021 or 2022 but Mike Anderson and his coaching staff have been hard at work in extending offers to the top and local prospects in both classes.

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