St. John's Chris Obekpa is the most important sub-four point per game scorer in college basketball. That's because the sophomore center also averaged 2.9 blocks per game last season and is already the Red Storm's all-time leader in the category. Despite previous reports indicating otherwise, the latest say he'll likely return to St. John's for his junior year.

Several weeks ago, Obekpa was granted his release from St. John's, around the same time his good friend, Max Hooper, also received his release, and a week after fellow sophomore Jakar Sampson declared for the NBA draft. (He likely won't make the first round.) After a semi-disappointing season, St. John's was suddenly involved in a fully disappointing offseason.

Then, they signed local product Adonis Delarosa, not nearly as regarded as last year's recruiting gem, Rysheed Jordan, but an intriguing center nonetheless. The Johnnies were desperate for frontline help; their only big men left were redshirt freshman Christian Jones, junior Sir'Dominic Pointer, and possibly Delarosa's brother, currently taking classes at Florida International. They needed Delarosa. The Christ the King product (which also churned out former St. John's stars Jayson Williams and Erick Barkley as well Lamar Odom, Speedy Claxton, Sue Bird, Chamique Holdsclaw, and others) had been weighing offers from Pittsburg, Fordham, Miami, and Georgetown, according to ESPN.

With Obekpa probably back on the roster (pending his meeting with head coach Steve Lavin later this week or next), St. John's once again has an excitement-generating roster. Yet, they had an exciting roster last year (voted to win the conference by the preseason coach's poll) until getting off to a slow start in the Big East and surging when it was too late. In a way, this offseason typifies why they're always around that 20-12, 19-13 mark, but never much better. In the Lavin era, they've gotten their share of big recruits (current Magic forward Maurice Harkless, Sampson, Jordan), but they haven't established much else.

"I just want to be prosperous to help others.. no other reason..," Obekpa tweeted after news of his transfer first became public.

As evidenced by Obekpa's oddly worded quote, he clearly felt he deserved more playing time, which he finally received at the end of the season. He was dominant defensively in their late season game against Villanova. If he can continue to develop his offensive game, he might follow in Sampson's footsteps and prematurely declare for the draft after next season.