Aaron Scott had a choice.
Stay close to home and play at the same school as your sister Liz in Oklahoma. Or step out of your comfort zone and come to New York City and join Rick Pitino in St. John’s.
It wasn’t an easy call-up for the talented transfer forward from North Texas.
The more I thought about the benefits of retirement, the more it seemed to make sense. Was he really going to turn down an opportunity to play in the Big East for a Hall of Famer? So, on Wednesday morning, he verbally committed to the Johnnys, making him the second transfer to choose St. John’s in recent days, the first being University of Southern California center Vince Iwchukwu’s decision on Tuesday. became.
“I wanted to get out of my comfort zone,” the 6-foot-7 Scott told The Post in a phone interview. “New York is a great place to go. I feel like I can be more successful there. It was a very difficult decision. But at the end of the day, I’m the one on campus and playing, so I have to make the decision myself. It was.
“Rick Pitino, he’s a Hall of Famer. Who wouldn’t want to be coached by him? I just know I’m going to be better there. I want to go to the league, that’s the ultimate. That’s our goal, and I feel like that’s where we have the best chance.”
Scott visited Memphis along with St. John’s and Oklahoma.
Arizona State, LSU, Mississippi State and Creighton also expressed interest in the talented forward, who averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and shot 37 percent from 3-point range last year with the Mean Green.
Associate head coach Steve Masiello was the lead recruiter. Rising sophomore Simeon Wilcher hosted his visit and made him feel comfortable. Scott has known up-and-coming junior Zuby Ejiofor from their days on the AAU circuit in Texas, adding to the kinship.
“The coaching staff treated me like family,” Scott said. “They were one of the first schools that attacked me as soon as I entered the portal. They were consistent. That’s ultimately why I decided to go there. ”
St. John’s plans to use the defensive-minded Scott as both the No. 3 and No. 4. He will give them flexibility and allow them to go big with him on the wing or go small with him at power forward. He has the length and athleticism that Pitino values in his up-tempo style.
Because of Scott’s dedication, there are three open scholarships remaining at St. John’s University. The need is clear. A guard and another forward.
The Johnnys have been actively recruiting a number of transfer players, most notably Texas forward Dillon Mitchell and Utah point guard Davon Smith. They are also awaiting NCAA rulings on Jordan Dingle and Chris Ledlum, who have been waived for one year of additional eligibility.
