Jawson Sanon and His Impressive Performance
Jawson Sanon had a moment during a press conference when he playfully interrupted Rick Pitino.
He joked that his jump shot isn’t “cold-blooded,” but “Coke butter cheese”—a term he coined to describe a smooth shot. Pitino corrected him with a laugh, saying it’s “Cola butter,” which sparked chuckles from everyone in the room. “I am studying,” he added jokingly.
As long as Sanon keeps making his shots, he can say whatever he wants.
In their recent 78-68 victory over No. 4 Seton Hall in the Big East tournament semifinals, Sanon, a sophomore guard, came off the bench, scoring 15 points and hitting three 3-pointers, contributing significantly to his team’s fifth consecutive tournament win.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, Sanon is beginning to find his rhythm and earn more playtime. When he stepped onto the court that night, he had a clear mindset.
“I told them, ‘We need a three,’ and when the coach put me in, I did what I had to do.” He also snagged three rebounds and made two steals in just 23 minutes.
Pitino responded with a smile, saying, “Can you just say that before you go into the game? Just nudge me and say, ‘Coach, I’m ready for 3 seconds.’”
Pitino, known for being a top shooter, believes in his talent and sees him as one of the best on the team. He intends to return next season and thinks Sanon has the potential to become a standout in the Big East.
Sanon feels optimistic about his future, referring to the NBA Draft: “I feel like I can go in the first round next year, just based on the representation Coach has and the confidence he has in me.”
At this crucial moment, Sanon is stepping up. He has scored in double figures in three of his last six games, showing significant improvement as a defender compared to when he first arrived at St. John’s.
“Joson is physically the most talented player on the team, and he’s only going to get better,” Pitino remarked. “He made some key defensive plays late in the game and has shown growth in that area. It’s thrilling because he’s improving in many aspects of the game.”
With this victory, St. John’s has won five straight games in the Big East Tournament, achieving each by double digits. The last team to accomplish such a feat was Connecticut in the 1999-2000 season.
The Red Storm has also secured six consecutive wins against Seton Hall, two of which were in the Big East Tournament. Notably, Johnnie’s 13 turnovers represented their highest since a match against Iona College back in December.
