Rick Pitino has lived 1,000 basketball lives throughout his legendary teaching profession, and he’s doing every thing he can to write down the right closing chapter at St. John’s. Turning 73 years outdated in Sept., Pitino is the oldest coach in males’s or ladies’s school basketball. The Johnnies gave him one final probability at vindication after his fame was marred by scandal at Louisville, and for a lot of this previous season Pitino’s group appeared destined for glory on the game’s greatest nationwide levels.
Then the Crimson Storm’s worst nightmares performed out within the spherical of 32, the place their full lack of capturing was uncovered in harsh highlight of March whereas additionally being out-muscled by an Arkansas group that appeared nothing like a standard 10-seed. The offense was so ugly that Pitino needed to bench Large East Participant of the 12 months RJ Luis in crunch-time. St. John’s was eradicated, changing into the one 2-seed to not make the Elite Eight in a sport the place they shot 2-of-22 from three.
This was at all times going to be an offseason of change for the Johnnies with Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith, and Aaron Scott shedding their eligibility. When Luis put his title within the switch portal (whereas additionally testing the NBA Draft), it was clear that Pitino wanted an enormous switch portal haul to maintain the momentum of St. John’s rebirth going.
Reward Madison Sq. Backyard and Vitamin Water, as a result of Pitino has made it occur. 5 new gamers have dedicated to St. John’s in what abruptly seems like one of many nation’s greatest portal hauls. The incoming switch class for the Crimson Storm provides high-end expertise whereas sustaining the group’s identification from final yr with some added aptitude. Meet the brand new Johnnies:
Ian Jackson, G, through North Carolina: Jackson was imagined to be a one-and-done, however he received misplaced in a deep Tar Heels backcourt throughout a attempting season. The New York native ought to really feel proper at residence with the Johnnies, main the backcourt as a score-first guard who could make it rain from three and supply some rim stress off the bounce.
Dillon Mitchell, F, through Cincinnati: Mitchell was a five-star recruit as a hyper-athletic 6’8 ahead, however he’s but to actually attain 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 residence dunks inside if he will get arrange. Mitchell additionally made 10 threes final season after making zero threes in every of his first two years. He’s a flexible defensive chess piece with vertical spacing potential that ought to match properly into St. John’s core.
Joson I say, g, through Arizona State: Sanon has tons of scoring upside on the wing whereas nonetheless rising into his physique and ability set. He was on hearth from three early in his freshman yr for Arizona State earlier than tailing off on the finish of the yr. He has an excellent body for an off-guard, and might bully his method into mid-range photographs when the offense will get stagnant. Pitino might flip him right into a defensive monster together with his instruments, however he nonetheless wants loads of refinement on that finish.
Oziyah Sellers, G, through Stanford: Sellers is a pure shooter on the wing as a skinny 6’5 guard. He hit 40 p.c of his threes and 90 p.c of his free throws at Stanford final season. He’s a catch-and-shoot marksman who will assist St. John’s stability the ground.
Bryce Hopkins, F, through Windfall: Hopkins appeared like a school star at Windfall earlier than tearing his ACL within the 2023-24 season. He tried to return again final season however was restricted to solely three video games earlier than going out with a bone bruise. If he’s wholesome this yr, Hopkins has a ton of offensive upside as a big-bodied scorer (6’7, 225 kilos) who does his greatest work from contained in the arc, but additionally has some ground spacing potential.
Final season, St. John’s completed No. 2 within the nation in defensive effectivity, however their offense solely ranked No. 68 principally due to a scarcity of capturing. There’s no method the Johnnies are capturing 30.1 p.c from deep once more this yr — which ranked No. 340 in DI — after including a lot capturing expertise. On the identical time, there must be sufficient defensive spine left over to take care of their bodily identification on that finish, particularly after the brand new guys get indoctrinated with Pitino’s ideas.
The massive returner for St. John’s is huge man Zuby Ejiofor, who emerged as a two-way pressure in his third school season. A 6’9, 240 pound heart, Ejiofor posted a block fee over 5 p.c and completed top-30 within the nation in offensive rebound fee. St. John’s will funnel drivers into his paint safety, and having a sick leaper subsequent to him in Mitchell will add a brand new dimension of rim safety.
There are another intriguing leftover items, as effectively. Ruben Prey is a 6’10 Spanish ahead who didn’t get on the ground a lot as a freshman, however has the instruments and bettering ability to influence the sport on each ends if he can earn minutes. Lefteris Liotopoulos received some NCAA event expertise final yr and offers St. John’s one other ball handler off the bench. There’s additionally 6’8 Austrian ahead Imran Suljanovic coming into this system for subsequent season.
The massive query is the shortage of playmaking. Jackson is extra of a scorer than a facilitator, and the identical goes for Sanon. Followers and analysts will bemoan the shortage of a standard level guard when the Johnnies hit a tough patch, however having speedy ball handlers, robust shot-makers, and ground spacers from three can alleviate a few of these issues. The Crimson Storm can matchup hunt in isolation come postseason time in a method they couldn’t final yr on a extra crowded ground. Level guard play is crucial in March, however these Johnnies simply is perhaps robust sufficient on each ends to beat the absence of 1.
Pitino seemingly doesn’t have a few years left within the teaching world, however he received’t be going out with a whimper. With tons of a billionaire donor behind him and the promise of bringing pleasure to MSG, St. John’s is ready up for one more fascinating season to return. This group could have a bit extra stability that Pitino was lacking final yr after their portal additions.