It is long way from now until November 2010, but the Saint Joseph's roster for the opening game that season is no longer a secret. Barring something unforeseen, the Hawks have completed their 2010 class with a verbal commitment from 6-3 combo guard Langston Galloway of Christian Life Academy (Baton Rouge, La.).
If Louisiana sounds like foreign recruiting territory for St. Joe's, it is. But this is a family story.
Galloway's mother, Jeri, is sister to Hawks assistant Geoff Arnold. And that gave St. Joe's a shot it normally would not have had for a top 100 recruit who was being courted by LSU, Oklahoma State, Texas A & M, Baylor, Stanford, UCLA, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame.
"I need to get little bit stronger," said Galloway, who has spent the last month in Philadelphia working out every day with John Hardnett. "The best part of my game is that I can play either guard, pass it, shoot it."
One observer described Galloway's game as "Cuttino Mobley-like." That would work nicely.
The family of Galloway's father, Larry, lives in Louisiana. Jeri's family is all Philly.
"My family's up here and they all supported me, saying you should go to St. Joe's and we'll be there to support you," Galloway said.
Last week, St. Joe's got a commitment from C.J. Aiken (Plymouth Whitemarsh). The 6-9 Aiken is ranked 42nd in the class of 2010. Galloway is ranked 98th. During last season, St. Joe's got a commitment from 6-7 Paulsboro (N.J.) High wing Darius Quarles. He is ranked 141st by Rivals.
So, St. Joe's has three top 150 recruits from the rising senior class. How that will play out won't be determined for quite some time. What is certain is that by completing its recruiting before the critical July period when bigger schools often swoop in and beat out smaller schools for recruits, St. Joe's has put itself in a nice spot. *
CAN'T BELIEVE C-H-O-N-E SPELLS SHAWN
