Westchester High’s Dwayne Polee Jr. chooses St. John’s
New St. John’s Coach Steve Lavin, the former UCLA basketball coach, has wasted little time in using his West Coast connections and recruiting skills.
Dwayne Polee Jr., the Los Angeles City Section player of the year from Westchester High, is expected to officially announce Friday that he has accepted a scholarship offer from St. John’s.
St. John’s was a late arrival in the competition for Polee’s services after hiring Lavin on March 30. Polee, a onetime USC recruit, also considered Georgia and Oregon.
“He was in love with Coach Lavin,” Polee’s father, Dwayne Sr., said. “Lavin is a West Coast guy, and he was comfortable with him.”
Lavin was prohibited by NCAA rules from commenting about Polee’s news because the player has not yet signed a letter of intent.
The 6-foot-7 Polee led Westchester to a 32-3 record and City Section and state Division I championships and averaged 20 points, nine rebounds and two blocks a game. He is one of the best leapers in California.
St. John’s is scheduled to play UCLA next year at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 5, a homecoming for Lavin and Polee.
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