Keeping talent at home not easy for St. John's, DePaul

Norm Roberts was leaving the St. John's campus Thursday afternoon to go out recruiting when he answered his cell phone.

A few minutes later, a groan came across the line, one that New York City motorists know all too well.

"I'm getting ready to get caught in the biggest traffic jam ever," Roberts grumbled. "That's another tough thing about the city - traffic."

Big-city life is hardly a snap for Roberts, the fifth-year coach at St. John's. The same goes for DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright, whose team faces the Red Storm today (11 a.m., Channel 23).

Both men are coaching in their hometowns -- Roberts grew up near St. John's in Queens, Wainwright hails from just outside Chicago in Berwyn -- and both are trying to restore programs that have slipped despite their famous addresses.

St. John's is coming off its first winning season (16-15) since 2002-03 and hasn't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2002. DePaul has reached the NCAAs just twice since 1992.

With a surplus of talent at their doorstep and locations in the nation's largest and third largest media markets, why haven't St. John's and DePaul returned to glory?

The first reason is traffic. Not the SUVs blocking Roberts' route during rush hour, but coaches from around the country trying to tap the talent wells of major cities.

"Who are the best players in New York? Everybody wants 'em," Wainwright said. "The best players in Chicago -- would I like to have Sherron Collins, Derrick Rose? Sure. I'd love to. Will we ultimately get those kids? I'd like to think so.

"But you're not alone. There are tremendous recruiting bridges already built between programs."

Both Roberts and Wainwright have been on the other side, scouring cities for prospects while coaching for programs located outside major urban areas.

As an Illinois assistant from 2000-03, Roberts helped land Chicago-area studs like Dee Brown and James Augustine. After heading to Kansas with Bill Self, he recruited Russell Robinson from New York.

His current challenge is keeping recruits at home, which has become more difficult in the information age and with the boom of AAU basketball.

"I have a son who's 10 years old and he's already been to Philly, Virginia, Kansas City with AAU basketball," Roberts said. "A kid could be playing AAU and he could be traveling to California every summer since he was 13. Back in the '80s, '90s, kids would have said, 'Man, I've never been out to California. I'm not going out there.' "

Added Wainwright: "AAU travel has opened up the whole world to kids. No one is afraid to go away from home."

Roberts estimates that St. John's conducts 75-80 percent of its recruiting in the New York City area. The Red Storm has 10 in-state players and five from the city's boroughs.

Roberts sells prospects on having a "security blanket" close to home.

"All college kids are going to go through some things, tough times," he said. "When you have those people there for support, it's very helpful."

Wainwright has signed five Chicago-area prep prospects since his arrival in 2005. DePaul also maintains a strong New York area focus because of lead recruiter Gary DeCesare, a Bronx native.

"What makes a kid stay home?" Wainwright asked. "City schools face that more than state schools. It's a whole different animal, and you've got to spend some time at it.

"Ultimately, we have to have a product that says, 'You know what? I can realize my dreams here.' "