St. John’s basketball: Yaxel Lendeborg reopens recruitment

St. John’s basketball has officially lost the commitment of JUCO All-American Yaxel Lendeborg. 

Two of the three players in the original St. John’s basketball recruiting class have reopened their recruitments since Rick Pitino was named as the program’s new head coach.

Yaxel Lendeborg made the official announcement on Tuesday night via social media.

“I wanted to announce that I am reopening my recruitment,” Lendeborg said.

“Thank you St. John’s for recruiting me and believing in me.”

The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward was named as an NJCAA Third Team All-American selection last season at Arizona Western, as well as the ACCAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, while averaging 12.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game but saw his game elevate to a new level in his final year at the junior college.

Lendeborg posted 17.2 points and 13.0 rebounds per contest this season on 72.7-percent shooting from the floor and 43.8-percent from 3-point range.

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“Also thank you to the fans for supporting me along throughout the commitment,” Lendeborg continued.

Yaxel Lendeborg committed to St. John’s over Xavier and New Mexico in October and has since received offers from Tulsa and Florida International since reopening his recruitment.

St. John’s basketball roster continues to turnover

Harrison Reede, an unranked shooting guard from PHHoenix Prep (Ariz.), decommitted from the program on Friday afternoon as Rafael Pinzon, O’Mar Stanley, Kolby King, and AJ Storr have entered the transfer portal.

Rick Pitino has said that most of the current roster would not return and he could bring in as many as eight new players to Queens next fall.

ALSO READ: St. John’s loses commitment from Harrison Reede

Brandon Gardner, a four-star forward from Christ the King (NY), still remains committed to the Red Storm in the Class of 2023.

Gardner is ranked as the No. 78 player in the senior class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and the No. 2 player in the state of New York.