Ramping up on the unrequired work and seizing a leadership role as a vocal guy, St. John’s forward Joel Soriano took the first step in mastering his more significant role during the team’s recent trip to the Dominican Republic.
Stoked with confidence, the 6-foot-11 Soriano turned in three consecutive double doubles and averaged 19.7 points and 13.7 boards during the three-game slate.
Given Soriano’s growth this summer, St. John’s fans hope this is portent of what’s to come.
Playing instinctively and with a sense of relentlessness as he attacked the boards, Soriano looked like a man possessed.
Soriano shot 60.7 percent from the floor and knocked back 19-for-28 from the free throw line. One year after trimming down from 280 pounds and kicking a habit of late night snacks (at teammates Posh Alexander and Dylan Wusu’s urging) to better adjust to Mike Anderson’s souped up attack, Soriano has made conditioning a livelihood and worked his way into top-shelf shape.
It’s been a long journey for the Stepinac HS product. A late bloomer during his time at the CHSAA and now national power, Soriano worked at a frantic rate to shed the label of law.
One coach who isn’t surprised at all by Soriano’s summer emergence is Stepinac head coach Pat Massaroni.
“Joel was committed to getting better every single day on and off the court,” Massaroni, whose current roster features St. John’s targets such as 2024 five star recruit Boogie Fland and slick Class of 2025 point guard Danny Carbuccia, recalled.
“He would work out twice, if not three times a day with (Stepinac Associate Head Coach) Rodney Swain and want to get better.”
A shot blocker and catch-and-dunk threat, Soriano brought imposing size and oozed of upside at the high school level. Massaroni and his staff, however, had to stay on him for the Yonkers, NY native to realize his true potential.
“It was a group effort,” Massaroni said.
“Rodney, PSA Cardinals and (PSA head coach Terrence “Munch” Williams) and myself to continue to keep him focused. He matured along the way. Look what he’s doing now.”
Soriano’s quick emergence as a focal point comes after SJU compiled a 17-15 record during the 2021-22 campaign. St. John’s battled bouts of inconsistency last year.
They also lost a go-to guy who shouldered the burden of timely shot maker in Bishop Loughlin product Julian Champagnie.
Champagnie, who culminated this past season averaging a team best 19.6 points and 6.6 boards, is currently with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two way contract.
While the aforementioned Alexander steps into a more meaningful role as a game manager capable of engineering runs, Soriano will be tasked with filling some of the gap left by Champagnie’s departure. Champagnie’s loss, of course, will have to be filled by committee.
Once an unsung recruit who even considered the prep school route to gain more exposure, Champagnie led by action and words last season. While his commanding locker room presence will be missed, Soriano now realizes the onus is on him to take some ownership of this St. John’s team.
He, along with Alexander and the bullish 6-foot-4 junior guard Wusu suddenly have the look of program poster boys.
Soriano originally committed to Fordham. After authoring a minimal impact as a freshman, he averaged a near double double as a sophomore. He transferred to St. John’s that off-season.
While his numbers were down from his sophomore year, Soriano showed flashes. He turned in a 14-point, nine rebound performance during a win over Georgetown.
Soriano shot 12-for-12 in back to back wins over the Hoyas last season. It was an up and down year for Soriano overall, as he averaged 6.4 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Having played for Dominican national teams as a youth, matchups in his homeland had extra juice for Soriano. During two games against Dominican national teams during the 2-1 international road swing, Soriano averaged 22.5 points and 15.5 boards. St. John’s lone loss came at the hands of the Dominican Republic Senior National team.
Former Oregon and current Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte was the overwhelming factor in the DR Senior National Team’s win, with a 29-point onslaught. Duarte engineered a personal 10-2 power surge during the fourth quarter.
Playing with a sense of purpose and urgency, Soriano scored 22 points and grabbed 16 boards in the loss.
