Rick Pipino has lived a basketball career of 1,000 people. Pitino, who turned 73 in September, is the oldest coach in boys’ or women’s college basketball. Johnny gave him a last chance of finances after his reputation was eroded by a scandal in Louisville, and for much of this past season it seemed that Pitino’s team was doomed to a glorious fate on the sport’s biggest national stage.
The Red Storm’s worst nightmare took place in 32 rounds. There, the lack of full shooting was exposed in the harsh spotlight in March, and was driven crazy by the Arkansas team that didn’t look like a traditional 10 seed. The attack was so ugly that Pitino had to bench Big East Player of the Year RJ Lewis at crunch time. St. John’s was eliminated and became the only two seed that didn’t make an Elite Eight in a game where he shot 22 from three.
This will always be an offseason of change for Johnny, with Cuddary Richmond, Davon Smith and Aaron Scott out of eligibility. When Lewis put his name on the transfer portal (while testing the NBA draft as well), it was clear that Pitino needed a massive transfer portal haul to maintain the momentum of St. John’s rebirth.
I praise Madison Square Garden Vitamin waterbecause Pitino made it happen. Five new players have committed to St. John’s, which looks like one of the best portals in the country. Red Storm’s incoming call transfer class will add high-end talent while maintaining the team’s identity since last year. Meet the new Johnny:
Ian Jackson, G, via North Carolina: Jackson was supposed to be one, but he got lost in the Deep Tar Heels backcourt during the ordeal season. The New York native should feel at home with Johnny, leading the backcourt as the score first guard, and raining from the 3rd to put rim pressure from the bounce.
Dillon Mitchell, F. via Cincinnati: Mitchell was a five-star recruit as a hyper-athletic 6’8 forward, but hasn’t reached his potential after two years in Texas and a season with the Bearcats. He becomes a defensively important piece for Pitino as a rim protector and rebounder, and if he is set up he can wash away the dunks of his home inside the house. Mitchell also made 10 threes last season after making zero threes each in the first two years. He is a versatile defensive chess piece with the possibility of vertical spacing that fits well into the St. John’s core.
Joson Sannon, G. Arizona: Sanon has scored plenty of points with his wings while growing into his body and skill set. He was on fire early in the Arizona freshman year at the end of the year. He has a great frame for off guard and can bully his path to midrange shots when the attack stagnates. Pitino managed to turn him into a defensive monster with his tools, but he still needs enough refinement to do so.
Ojiya Seller, via Stanford: The seller is a pure archer with the wings as a thin 6’5 guard. He hit 30% and 90% of free throws at Stanford last season. He is a catch-and-shoot marksman who helps St. John’s balance the floor.
Bryce Hopkins, f, via Providence: Hopkins looked like a Providence college star before tearing the ACL between 2023-24. He tried to return last season, but only had three games restriction before he went out with bone bruises. If he’s healthy again this year, Hopkins has plenty of offensive benefits as a big body scorer (6’7, 225 pounds), who does the best job from within the arc, but also has the potential to be floor-spaced.
Last season, St. Johns finished second in the country in defensive efficiency, but their offense ranked 68th, mainly due to lack of shooting. There’s no way Johnny could shoot 30.1% from deep again this year. This was ranked 340th in DI, but after adding a lot of shooting talent. At the same time, there should be enough defensive backbone left to maintain physical identity for that purpose, especially after new men have been instilled in Pitino’s principles.
St. John’s Big Returner is the big man Zubie Egiofort, who emerged as a two-way unit in his third college season. Ejiofor, a 6’9, 240 pound centre, recorded a block rate above 5%, finishing the top 30 in the country with an offensive rebound rate. St. John’s leaks the driver into his paint protection and has a sick, boring, boring person next to him at Mitchell adds a new dimension of rim protection.
There are also some other interesting rest of the works. Reuben Play is a 6’10 Spanish forward who was not on the floor as a freshman, but has the tools and improvement skills to influence the game on both ends if he can earn a few minutes. Lefteris Liotopoulos gained experience in the NCAA Tournament last year, giving St. John’s another ball handler off the bench. 6’8 Austrian forward Imran Suljanovic is also taking part in the program next season.
The big problem is the lack of playmaking. Jackson is more of a scorer than a facilitator, and the same can be said for Sanon. Fans and analysts lament the lack of traditional point guards when Johnny hits a rough patch, but having three speedy ball handlers, tough shot makers and floor spacers can alleviate some of these concerns. Red Storm can match up season time alone in ways that weren’t possible on more crowded floors last year. Point guard plays are essential in March, but these Johnny may be tough enough to overcome the absence of both ends.
Pitino may not have remained in the world of coaching for years, but he hasn’t whispered. With the promise to bring excitement to a bunch of billionaire donors and MSG behind him, St. John’s was founded for the fascinating seasons to come. The team has a little more balance in which Pitino went missing last year after the addition of the portal.
