St. John’s Simeon Wilcher motivated to excel in loaded new-look backcourt

It would be understandable if Simeon Wilcher was concerned.

If he wanted to know where he stood. If the spring additions of standout point guards Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith made the rising sophomore second-guess his standing at St. John’s.

His close friend and teammate Brady Dunlap knows how he would feel if it were him.

“Admittedly, I would be like, ‘Yo, what’s going on,’ ” Dunlap said Wednesday, as summer workouts continued in Queens. “He never had that attitude at all. He’s kind of attacked it … like, ‘OK I got these two guys coming in, I’m going to compete against them like I competed against [Daniss Jenkins], and have that, ‘I’m going to get better and better and better,’ mindset.”

The 6-foot-4 Wilcher didn’t see it as impacting him negatively. Smith and Richmond would make the Johnnies — and himself — better by extension.

They had, after all, spots to fill in the backcourt after losing Jenkins, Jordan Dingle and Nahiem Alleyne.

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Wilcher improved by practicing every day last year against Jenkins, who is now in the NBA on a two-way contract with the Pistons , so competing against Smith and Richmond, two of the top guards to enter the transfer portal, would only help him.

Above all else, he wanted to win.

“I didn’t have any bad feelings or any bad thoughts about it.,” Wilcher said. “The two guys we brought in, they’re not selfish people. We’re going to share the [ball]. It’s not really about how my role is going to change. I’m here just to be myself, play my game and see how I can contribute to this team.”

Plus, though he might not technically be St. John’s point guard this coming season, his role will be significant as the team’s third guard.

Coach Rick Pitino assured him of that when Richmond and Smith verbally committed to the Red Storm in the span of 24 hours in early May. The plan is to play all three together.

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The two newcomers aren’t known as shooters — neither has averaged more than 2.5 3-point attempts in their four-year college careers — and Wilcher has impressed in that area late last year and so far this offseason. He’s stopped letting missed shots bother him — Pitino joked that he acted like the world was ending if a jumper didn’t fall.

“He’s the scorer among the [backcourt]. He’s gotta take the most 3’s on the team. He’s going to be the guy who scores,” Pitino said. “I think he’s going to have a great season — as I expected him to have as a sophomore.”

Wilcher has diligently worked on his jumper, knowing knocking down shots will be critical this winter. He joins Dunlap frequently for evening shooting sessions, the team’s likely top two 3-point shooters pushing one another.

They have grown close, Dunlap and Wilcher.

Both were four-star recruits coming out of high school who had to wait their turn last year. They have leaned on one another as much off the court as on it.

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“It’s literally the best thing that could’ve happened,” Wilcher said. “Not only have somebody that’s going through the same thing as me, but having somebody that’s a different position than me and we still have the same thing in common. We can build each other up.”

He added: “That’s my guy forever now.”

Dunlap has seen growth in Wilcher since last season ended. He’s more confident and sure of himself. He’s thinking less and reacting more.

The best example of that might be St. John’s activity in the transfer portal. Wilcher was secure enough in himself not to worry about who the Johnnies brought in.

“Just how he’s talking this year compared to last year, it’s two completely different people,” Dunlap said. “I know there are high expectations already, but I think he’s going to surprise even more people because of how dynamic he is and how many different things he can do.”

Wilcher believes last year was important for him, even if he averaged just 9.1 minutes in 28 games.

He learned a lot by watching and practicing against older teammates. Now, he feels ready to make an impact on the court.

“It’s extremely exciting,” Wilcher said. “This is really what we came to college for, to have the opportunity to go out there and play and show everyone what we can do.”

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