Indeed, Simeon Wilcher would rather play than watch. Like other athletes, he wants to be on the court, not on the bench.
But a season of learning mostly from the sideline didn’t discourage the highly-touted St. John’s freshman or coach Rick Pitino.
“Honestly, I’m not making too much of a fuss because I know my turn is coming,” Wilcher said ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Johnny’s No. 15 Creighton at the Garden. Told. . “I feel very comfortable here. I’m happy with where I’m at.”
Wilcher was one of the big offseason additions, a top-40 recruit out of Roselle Catholic (N.J.) and originally signed with North Carolina. He’s looking to play second fiddle to fifth-year senior point guard Danis Jenkins, but there have only been fleeting glimpses of his potential. He averaged 2.6 points and 1.1 assists in 9.3 minutes per game in 23 games and two starts. The 6-foot-4 guard made an impact in the second half with a seven-point performance in the win over Georgetown, and Pitino expects him to get more playing time in the remaining games.
Even when he’s not playing, Wilcher believes he’s improving. He said practicing against Jenkins every day has made a huge difference just in terms of being a leader and understanding how important it is to find your voice. Mr. Jenkins doesn’t cut him any slack.
Pitino has raved about teammate Wilcher all season, citing him as someone who always has his back and doesn’t let his disappointment in playing time affect him negatively. Wilcher learned it from his older brother, C.J., who played a similar role as a freshman at Xavier University. He may not be playing much, but he could contribute in other ways.
“It’s not just about me, it’s about all of us,” Wilcher said. “If there’s anything I can do to help you, I’d be happy to help.”
Wilcher is a bit of an anomaly in today’s world of top prospects. He did not transfer high schools and spent all four years at Roselle Catholic. He turned down a six-figure contract with Overtime Elite, a new high school sports league. He never bounced from AAU program to AAU program, playing for the Albany City Rocks and New York Lens. He’s honest and he’s not going to change his plans just because this year didn’t go as planned.
“I feel like we’ve really gone through a lot this year, so there’s no reason for us to go through the same thing at some point next year,” he said. “I feel very comfortable here. My parents talk things through so I understand them.
“I’m betting on coming here. I’m just a relationship person, so I feel like I have a good relationship with everyone here and there’s no reason to get up and move. . Because that’s not part of the struggle of being a college athlete.”
Ultimately, Wilcher chose St. John’s University because he felt Pitino was the best choice to develop his game and give him the best opportunity to one day play in the NBA. That hasn’t changed. Pitino, like former Louisville stars Peyton Siva and Russ Smith, is known for not playing much as a freshman and achieving great results later in his career.
“I’m in no rush to get to the next level,” Wilcher said. “I just want to be the best player I can be, so when my time comes and God blesses me with the opportunity to go to the next level, I’m totally ready and ready.” , you can stay there.”
