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St. John’s basketball gives out individual awards for 2019-20 season

By Kevin Connelly

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Rasheem Dunn #3 of the St. John's basketball team handles the ball on offense against the Creighton Bluejays at Carnesecca Arena on March 01, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Rasheem Dunn #3 of the St. John's basketball team handles the ball on offense against the Creighton Bluejays at Carnesecca Arena on March 01, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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The St. John’s basketball program announced its individual award recipients from the 2019-20 season.

After the 2019-20 college basketball season was cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic, the St. John’s Athletic Department held its annual awards banquet on Wednesday afternoon, albeit in a virtual setting.

St. John’s men’s basketball team finished with a 17-15 record (5-13 Big East) under first year head coach Mike Anderson while the Johnnies started to catch fire at the end of the season before the season was canceled at halftime of the quarterfinals Big East Tournament.

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The team announced that sophomore Marcellus Earlington was presented with the Lawrence R. Thomson Memorial Award, which is given to the most improved player on the roster.

After a freshman season where the Don Bosco Prep (NJ) product barley saw the floor, Earlington played in 32 games in his sophomore year, averaging 9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game on 46.2 percent shooting from the floor and an improving 27.9 percent from 3-point range.

The 6-foot-6 forward only played in 15 games in his only season under head coach Chris Mullin and averaged just 2.1 points and 3.9 minutes per game.

As for the Most Valuable Player on the Red Storm, the Christian L. Thomsen Memorial Award was given to junior guard Rasheem Dunn.

In his first year with the Johnnies the Brooklyn native averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per contest on 37.7 percent shooting from the field.

There was a lingering doubt if Dunn would be eligible to play for St. John’s this season after transferring from Cleveland State, but the guard was able to get an NCAA transfer waiver to be immediately eligible.

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The St. John’s women’s basketball team also handed out its individual awards and the Lady Johnnies were able to complete the Big East Tournament, although it ended with a disappointing finish in the semifinals with a loss to Marquette.

However, Joe Tartamella’s squad was looking at a NCAA Tournament berth after a 19-12 record (11-7 Big East).

Star freshman Leilani Correa was named as the winner of the Marianne Noonan Memorial Award after being named as the Big East Sixth-Woman Award, as well as a Unanimous selection to Big East All Freshman Team, Big East All-Tournament Team, and All-Met Third Team Selection.

The Manchester, New Jersey native averaged 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 35.4 percent from 3-point range.

As for the Victoria Porter Team MVP Award, junior Qadashah Hoppie was presented with the honor after being named as a Big East Second Team selection and All-Met First Team selection.

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Hoppie posted 15.4 points per contest on 38.6 percent shooting from the floor and 37.6 percent from 3-point range.

St. John’s should feel very confident with all four of these players returning to Queens for at least one more season in hopes of make a name for themselves, and their programs, on the national stage.