There have been new information and developments in the recruitment of St. John’s basketball target Franck Kepnang, a four-star center in the Class of 2021.
St. John’s seemed to be in prime position to land Class of 2021 center Franck Kepnang after the program had a virtual call with the four-star center on June 8.
However, since that date there have been several new developments in the recruitment of the 6-foot-11 big man.
More from Storm The Paint
- St. John’s soccer star makes history in thrilling win against Harvard
- St. John’s basketball schedule complete as Big East reveals matchups
- St. John’s basketball adds to recruiting class with 4-star wing Jaiden Glover
- St. John’s basketball: Daniss Jenkins officially cleared to join Johnnies
- St. John’s basketball prepares for busy weekend of official visits
Kepnang has also had virtual visits with Texas A&M on June 9, Georgetown on June 12, and Vanderbilt on June 23, in addition to picking up an offer from DePaul on June 9.
The Westtown High School (PA) star also holds offers from Kansas, Maryland, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and UCLA, among others.
As for Kepnang’s call with the Red Storm on June 8, Franck Kepnang’s guardian, Mark Carter, told Jason Jordan of Sports Illustrated that the meeting “went well” and that “St. John’s was well versed, super informative, and have a plan for Franck to pursue his goals off and on the court. There’s no bigger stage than the Mecca of Basketball.”
Despite looking like it was in solid position to possibly land the four-star center, Andrew Hattersley, a staff writer for GigEm247, the 247 Sports site that covers Texas A&M, logged a Crystal Ball Prediction for the Aggies to land Franck Kepnang.
Hattersley’s confidence level of Buzz Williams landing the Cameroon native is a five-out-of-ten but the writer is an all-time seven-for-seven when logging a Crystal Ball Prediction.
ALSO READ: St. John’s creates important positioning for Franck Kepnang
No other Crystal Ball Predictions has been logged for Kepnang.
In the updated 247 Sports Composite Rankings, Franck Kepnang is ranked as the No. 25 player in the rising senior class, the No. 6 center in the Class of 2021, and the No. 2 player the state of Pennsylvania.
It has also been reported that Kepnang is mulling a decision of reclassifying from the Class of 2021 to the Class of 2020 and that would fit perfectly into the plans of the Red Storm as St. John’s still has one open scholarship left thanks to the unexpected transfer of rising senior wing LJ Figueroa.
ALSO READ: Players that must step up in absence of LJ Figueroa
Franck Kepnang has taken unofficial visits to St. John’s, Georgetown, and Maryland last season.
If the center were to reclassify, that decision would have to be made around August at the latest, but other than that he has not given a timetable on when he could come to a decision.
Landing Kepnang would not only be a major boost for St. John’s, it would also buck a trend of the Red Storm not landing highly sought after big men as the Johnnies last landed a four-star center in the Class of 2012 with Chris Obekpa.