To have fun SLAM’s thirtieth anniversary, we’re spotlighting the 30 most influential males’s faculty groups from our previous 30 years. Stats, information and chips aren’t the primary issue right here, it’s all about their contribution to the sport’s cultural cloth.
For the following 30 days—Monday by way of Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full record right here. We’ve additionally bought an unique retro collegiate assortment, out now, that pays homage to every squad’s threads. Store right here.
Again in ‘99, St. John wasn’t only a college; they represented the true essence of New York Metropolis. Their males’s basketball group was no exception: with a hustler’s spirit, a chip on their shoulder, and newly sponsored hearth engine crimson Jordan Model uniforms, they lifted this system into a brand new period. The Purple Storm could have entered the season unranked, however by March, your entire faculty ecosystem was echoing the vibrations of Queens.
Head coach Mike Jarvis understood what he was coping with in his squad: gamers like Queensbridge native Metta Sandiford-Artest – identified again then as Ron Artest – grew up dwelling on New York Metropolis black tops. Toughness and perspective weren’t ever a query. As a substitute, he capitalized on that depth and fueled their native satisfaction so that each time his gamers took the courtroom, they performed to signify themselves and the town. With a 28-9 common season file, they captivated audiences in all places they went. Artest’s will to win was off the charts, like when he made certain to nail that three towards Duke to push the sport into OT as a result of he knew he’d sink it. Then there was freshman sensation Erick Barkley, who dazzled crowds with no-look passes and highlight-reel dunks. Bootsy Thornton didn’t simply dominate on the defensive finish; he might rating below any circumstances. The 2-time All-Large East choice was good for practically 15 factors a recreation, however the DMV native actually shined below the highlight. The No. 2 ranked Duke Blue Devils have been on the receiving finish of 1 such efficiency, the place Thorton exploded for a 40-piece. Bolstered by Tyrone Grant’s submit presence and Lavor Postell’s sharp taking pictures from deep, the Storm’s 5 double-digit scorers might gentle it up in transition and half-court.
The Purple Storm weren’t afraid to bully their manner by way of the Large East whereas rocking these saggy but glossy bright-red uniforms. Any time they stepped on the ground, they weren’t content material with simply profitable; they wished to entertain, to go away spectators in awe of their abilities and dominance. St. John’s destroyed the Maryland Terrapins 76-62 as a result of they weren’t happy with simply profitable; they needed to present their dominance over their opponents. Barkley’s 24-piece was proof sufficient. Every recreation was a spectacle, a showcase of the group’s expertise.
The Large East championship recreation went right down to the wire towards UConn, and regardless of the 82-63 loss, that was just the start of their postseason run. St. John’s dominated the NCAA event by way of the Elite Eight, profitable every recreation by a median of 25 factors.
And even now, a long time later, the legacy of the ‘99 St. John’s males’s basketball group lives on. They continue to be a logo of hope and inspiration, a reminder that something is feasible with laborious work, dedication, and a never-say-die perspective. They weren’t only a group; they have been a phenomenon, a shining instance of what will be achieved when expertise, willpower, and coronary heart come collectively in good concord. Their affect prolonged far past the confines of the basketball courtroom. With the Large East working by way of Mecca in 98-99, the Purple Storm returned to the Backyard 25 years later to a standing ovation from the New York trustworthy. Their legacy is cemented and enshrined within the metropolis’s historic reference to the sport.
Photographs through Getty Photos.
