SAN DIEGO — Zuby Ejiofor’s Impact
Though Zuby Ejiofor hasn’t made it onto any of the Associated Press All-American teams, his former coach regards the St. John’s forward as among the nation’s elite players.
Kansas coach Bill Self expressed his admiration for Ejiofor on Thursday, albeit with some hesitation about the prospect of facing him in the second round if both the Jayhawks and Johnnys win their initial games.
“I love Zuby, but honestly, I’m not surprised at all that he’s a pro,” Self said ahead of a matchup with No. 13 California Baptist at Viejas Arena on Friday. “It was obviously a perfect fit for him under Rick Pitino.”
Self mentioned enjoying watching Ejiofor develop into a well-rounded player. When discussing his skills, he referenced, “When you’re talking about perfection, you’re talking about the ability to post up, draw a foul, utilize both hands, and stretch the floor.”
Ejiofor, who was a top-50 high school recruit from Garland, Texas, spent a year at the University of Kansas, although his opportunity for playing time was somewhat limited.
Even though Self attempted to retain him, Ejiofor transferred after Kansas brought in star forward Hunter Dickinson from Michigan.
At St. John’s, he flourished into one of the standout big men in college basketball, earning accolades as the Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year this season.
Addressing the omission from the U.S. National Team, Ejiofor gracefully pointed out that the opinions of his teammates and coaches matter the most to him.
Pitino humorously remarked that Ejiofor had “10 million people kissing his ass.”
“The AP reporters don’t always get it right, but he’s definitely one of the top players,” Pitino noted. “You don’t need me to tell you that. He’s deeply appreciated, and in my eyes, irreplaceable.”
Pitino added reflectively, “I haven’t enjoyed coaching someone this much since Billy Donovan in 1987.”
Ejiofor clearly made a strong impression on Self, who stated, “When I think of All-American, he’s an All-American to me. Leading a team ranked 10th in scoring, rebounding, assists, and blocks, he’s definitely playing at a level above the rest.”
