A Rising Star: Dylan Darling’s Impact for St. John’s

It all kicked off with a remark by St. John’s head coach, Rick Pitino, and now it’s become quite the sensation.

Dylan Darling, affectionately dubbed “Church Bells,” stepped into the limelight Sunday by sinking a buzzer-beater layup to secure a thrilling 67-65 win over Kansas in San Diego. This victory propelled the Red Storm into the Sweet 16 where they will face Duke.

You might wonder how Darling earned this peculiar nickname. Well, cast your mind back to mid-February. He hit a game-winning three-pointer against Xavier in Cincinnati, and that moment sparked a new moniker.

Following that game, Pitino made a memorable comment that stuck in my mind: “Dylan Darling, he’s got a ball as big as a church bell. It’s unbelievable.” Those words echoed as Darling kept delivering clutch plays when it mattered most.

As the nickname gained traction, the team began to celebrate it in various ways. Now, after each game, they present a red church bell to the standout player of the night, known as the “Big Bell Award.”

“We bought a church bell for about $150, and it says St. John’s basketball’s most valuable player for that game,” Pitino shared. “After we win, we go into the locker room, ring the bell, and announce the winner. Everyone goes wild.”

Dylan Darling played 18 minutes during the clinching victory but only scored two points—the pivotal game-winner, of course.

After the match, Pitino recounted how Darling had the audacity to ask for the ball in the decisive huddle, and despite his earlier struggle in scoring, it seemed that Darling wanted to take the moment for himself. Pitino reflected on that moment saying, “As I was walking away, I thought, he’s Bells.”

In the end, he made just one out of five shot attempts, but he also tallied four assists, two steals, and one rebound in a game that will be remembered for a long time.