Steve Lavin, still recovering from surgery for prostate cancer, is focused on trying to lure top talent to St. John’s.

“It’s the most involved I’ve been recruiting, probably in my career,” Lavin said. “It’s the last thing I’m doing before I go to bed and the first thing I’m thinking about in the morning. . . . It’s not like I’m in an iron lung somewhere.”

Lavin, 47, and assistant coach Tony Chiles have been traveling the country to see recruits as far as Louisiana, California and Nevada. He took an extended leave from the bench in mid-November.

“I am back next year,” Lavin said.