D'Angelo Harrison worked his way out of coach Steve Lavin's doghouse before St. John's played its regular-season opener. Now he's in the penthouse after scoring 20 or more points in six of the team's first seven games.
"He's as prolific a scorer as there in the Big East," Lavin said after Harrison lit up South Carolina for 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting in Thursday's 89-65 rout at Carnesecca Arena.
Harrison was benched for one exhibition game and did not start another for minor disciplinary reasons. Though there are moments Harrison still lacks the focus Lavin would like to see, the coach has seen maturation in his sophomore star.
"There's a real breakthrough in terms of maturity on D'Angelo's part, and we're pleased with that," said Lavin, whose 5-2 Red Storm play host to NJIT Saturday afternoon (1 p.m., WBBR [1130 AM]).
The 6-foot-3 Harrison isn't letting minor things — like bad calls or hard fouls — get to him as they once did. Lavin said he feels Harrison's performance thus far, on the court and off, is proof of the positives strides he has taken.
"He has range like Reggie Miller, but he's improved his short game like [former Villanova point guard] Scottie Reynolds," Lavin said. "There's the craftiness of getting guys in the air and getting himself to the foul line. The arsenal in his offensive attack is impressive because he has the deep game, the mid-range game, stop-and-pop game and the rim game. If you foul him, he's money from the free-throw line. ... He's as highly skilled as anyone in the conference."
Harrison, who is averaging 21.9 points per game, isn't taking any bows. After the South Carolina game, he credited his teammates for setting him up for such easy opportunities.
"Anyone could have put up 20 points," he said.
Lavin isn't alone in his high praise of Harrison. Big East coaches voted Harrison an all-conference second-team preseason selection, and South Carolina coach Frank Martin recruited him "hard" while Martin was at Kansas State and was disappointed he fell short.
"When St. John's got him I knew he'd be a handful," Martin said. "He's got the ability on certain nights to go for a lot of baskets. He's a high-level player."
Lavin had the same feeling the first time he saw Harrison play on the AAU circuit, the Texan going for 45 points in Las Vegas. Initially, Marquette was viewed as the favorite before St. John's won out.
"We're definitely glad we have him," Lavin said.
zbraziller@nypost.com
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