Rick Pitino has lived 1,000 basketball lives throughout his legendary teaching profession, and he’s doing all the things he can to jot down the proper closing chapter at St. John’s. Turning 73 years previous in Sept., Pitino is the oldest coach in males’s or ladies’s school basketball. The Johnnies gave him one final likelihood at vindication after his fame was marred by scandal at Louisville, and for a lot of this previous season Pitino’s crew appeared destined for glory on the game’s greatest nationwide levels.
Then the Purple 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 crew that appeared nothing like a standard 10-seed. The offense was so ugly that Pitino needed to bench Huge East Participant of the Yr RJ Luis in crunch-time. St. John’s was eradicated, turning 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 dropping their eligibility. When Luis put his title within the switch portal (whereas additionally testing the NBA Draft), it was clear that Pitino wanted a large 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 immediately seems like one of many nation’s greatest portal hauls. The incoming switch class for the Purple Storm provides high-end expertise whereas sustaining the crew’s identification from final yr with some added aptitude. Meet the brand new Johnnies:
Ian Jackson, G, by way of North Carolina: Jackson was imagined to be a one-and-done, however he acquired misplaced in a deep Tar Heels backcourt throughout a attempting season. The New York native ought to really feel proper at house with the Johnnies, main the backcourt as a score-first guard who could make it rain from three and supply some rim strain off the bounce.
Dillon Mitchell, F, by way of Cincinnati: Mitchell was a five-star recruit as a hyper-athletic 6’8 ahead, however he’s but to essentially 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 house 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 Sanon, G, by way of Arizona State: Sanon has tons of scoring upside on the wing whereas nonetheless rising into his physique and talent 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 incredible body for an off-guard, and might bully his means into mid-range pictures 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, by way of 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, by way of Windfall: Hopkins appeared like a university star at Windfall earlier than tearing his ACL within the 2023-24 season. He tried to come back 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 in addition 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 an absence of capturing. There’s no means 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 similar time, there ought to 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 rules.
The large returner for St. John’s is huge man Zuby Ejiofor, who emerged as a two-way power 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 enhancing talent to impression the sport on each ends if he can earn minutes. Lefteris Liotopoulos acquired some NCAA match expertise final yr and offers St. John’s one other ball handler off the bench. There’s additionally 6’8 Austrian ahead Imran Suljanovic getting into this system for subsequent season.
The large query is the dearth of playmaking. Jackson is extra of a scorer than a facilitator, and the identical goes for Sanon. Followers and analysts will bemoan the dearth 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 considerations. The Purple Storm can matchup hunt in isolation come postseason time in a means 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 probably 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 come back. This crew could have just a little extra stability that Pitino was lacking final yr after their portal additions.