Rick Pitino has lived 1,000 basketball lives during his legendary coaching career, and he’s doing everything he can to write the perfect closing chapter at St. John’s. Turning 73 years old in Sept., Pitino is the oldest coach in men’s or women’s college basketball. The Johnnies gave him one last chance at vindication after his reputation was marred by scandal at Louisville, and for much of this past season Pitino’s team seemed destined for glory on the sport’s biggest national stages.
Then the Red Storm’s worst nightmares played out in the round of 32, where their complete lack of shooting was exposed in harsh spotlight of March while also being out-muscled by an Arkansas team that looked nothing like a traditional 10-seed. The offense was so ugly that Pitino had to bench Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis in crunch-time. St. John’s was eliminated, becoming the only 2-seed not to make the Elite Eight in a game where they shot 2-of-22 from three.
This was always going to be an offseason of change for the Johnnies with Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith, and Aaron Scott losing their eligibility. When Luis put his name in the transfer portal (while also testing the NBA Draft), it was clear that Pitino needed a massive transfer portal haul to keep the momentum of St. John’s rebirth going.
Praise Madison Square Garden and Vitamin Water, because Pitino has made it happen. Five new players have committed to St. John’s in what suddenly looks like one of the country’s best portal hauls. The incoming transfer class for the Red Storm adds high-end talent while maintaining the team’s identity from last year with some added flair. Meet the new Johnnies:
Ian Jackson, G, via North Carolina: Jackson was supposed to be a one-and-done, but he got lost in a deep Tar Heels backcourt during a trying season. The New York native should feel right at home with the Johnnies, leading the backcourt as a score-first guard who can make it rain from three and provide some rim pressure off the bounce.
Dillon Mitchell, F, via Cincinnati: Mitchell was a five-star recruit as a hyper-athletic 6’8 forward, but he’s yet to really reach his potential after two years at Texas and one season with the Bearcats. He’ll be a key piece defensively for Pitino as a rim protector and rebounder, and he can flush home dunks inside if he gets set up. Mitchell also made 10 threes last season after making zero threes in each of his first two years. He’s a versatile defensive chess piece with vertical spacing potential that should fit nicely into St. John’s core.
Joson Sanon, G, via Arizona State: Sanon has tons of scoring upside on the wing while still growing into his body and skill set. He was on fire from three early in his freshman year for Arizona State before tailing off at the end of the year. He has a great frame for an off-guard, and can bully his way into mid-range shots when the offense gets stagnant. Pitino could turn him into a defensive monster with his tools, but he still needs plenty of refinement on that end.
Oziyah Sellers, G, via Stanford: Sellers is a pure shooter on the wing as a thin 6’5 guard. He hit 40 percent of his threes and 90 percent of his free throws at Stanford last season. He’s a catch-and-shoot marksman who will help St. John’s balance the floor.
Bryce Hopkins, F, via Providence: Hopkins looked like a college star at Providence before tearing his ACL in the 2023-24 season. He tried to come back last season but was limited to only three games before going out with a bone bruise. If he’s healthy this year, Hopkins has a ton of offensive upside as a big-bodied scorer (6’7, 225 pounds) who does his best work from inside the arc, but also has some floor spacing potential.
Last season, St. John’s finished No. 2 in the country in defensive efficiency, but their offense only ranked No. 68 mostly because of a lack of shooting. There’s no way the Johnnies are shooting 30.1 percent from deep again this year — which ranked No. 340 in DI — after adding so much shooting talent. At the same time, there should be enough defensive backbone left over to maintain their physical identity on that end, especially after the new guys get indoctrinated with Pitino’s principles.
The big returner for St. John’s is big man Zuby Ejiofor, who emerged as a two-way force in his third college season. A 6’9, 240 pound center, Ejiofor posted a block rate over five percent and finished top-30 in the country in offensive rebound rate. St. John’s will funnel drivers into his paint protection, and having a sick leaper next to him in Mitchell will add a new dimension of rim protection.
There are some other intriguing leftover pieces, as well. Ruben Prey is a 6’10 Spanish forward who didn’t get on the floor much as a freshman, but has the tools and improving skill to impact the game on both ends if he can earn minutes. Lefteris Liotopoulos got some NCAA tournament experience last year and gives St. John’s another ball handler off the bench. There’s also 6’8 Austrian forward Imran Suljanovic entering the program for next season.
The big question is the lack of playmaking. Jackson is more of a scorer than a facilitator, and the same goes for Sanon. Fans and analysts will bemoan the lack of a traditional point guard when the Johnnies hit a rough patch, but having speedy ball handlers, tough shot-makers, and floor spacers from three can alleviate some of those concerns. The Red Storm can matchup hunt in isolation come postseason time in a way they couldn’t last year on a more crowded floor. Point guard play is essential in March, but these Johnnies just might be tough enough on both ends to overcome the absence of one.
Pitino likely doesn’t have many years left in the coaching world, but he won’t be going out with a whimper. With tons of a billionaire donor behind him and the promise of bringing excitement to MSG, St. John’s is set up for another fascinating season to come. This team will have a little more balance that Pitino was missing last year after their portal additions.