Mike Anderson, St. John’s basketball talks to Alden Applewhite everyday

St. John's basketball head coach Mike Anderson and assistant TJ Cleveland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
St. John's basketball head coach Mike Anderson and assistant TJ Cleveland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The St. John’s basketball program has been in contact with Class of 2021 prospect Alden Applewhite everyday since offering him a scholarship.

Recruiting in college basketball in a persistent game and there might not be as many persistent college basketball coaches as Mike Anderson.

Despite not having any commitments from players in the Class of 2021, the second year head coach of the Red Storm has been one of the busiest people on the recruiting trail this spring and summer since the season was prematurely canceled.

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In a recent interview with 247Sports, three-star small forward Alden Applewhite provided an update on his recruitment and the four schools that made his final cut.

Applewhite is still considering St. John’s, Iowa State, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss.

However, in the interview he mentioned that he speaks with the Red Storm everyday and is very familiar with the program.

The Compass Prep High School star said that the coaching staff has been communicating how well he would fit in with the team but the one negative could be that the Johnnies have not been recruiting the 6-foot-7 forward as long as his other three finalists.

Applewhite said Iowa State and Ole Miss have been recruiting him since he was a freshman and he has built up a great relationship with Mississippi State and has seen the Bulldogs play in person.

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Despite the NCAA putting a restriction on in-person visits, Alden Applewhite is hoping to take his official visits to each of the schools prior to making a decision on where he will play college basketball.

Applewhite is ranked as the No. 171 recruit in the rising senior class, No. 42 small forward, and No. 9 player in the state of Arizona, according to the 247 Sports Composite Rankings.

ALSO READ: St. John’s completes virtual visit with ’21 wing Rafael Castro

The site’s Crystal Ball Prediction has the prospect landing at Mississippi State with a six-out-of-ten confidence rankings although only one prediction has been logged and that was back in February by Mississippi State insider Paul Jones.

St. John’s extended an offer to Alden Applewhite on May 4.