Ojia Sellers Shines as St. John’s Makes a Statement

PHILADELPHIA — Rick Pitino has been anticipating a standout performance from Ojia Sellers, the dynamic shooter who transferred from Stanford. This season, Sellers has been crucial for St. John’s, especially when he’s aggressive and confident in his shooting.

There were moments—especially early in the season—when he showed his ability to dominate games, as seen in his performances against Iowa State and Baylor back in November. But then there were times when he seemed hesitant, and his stats suffered. It was puzzling to see such a talent underperform.

However, during St. John’s impressive victory over Marquette, sellers showcased precisely the spark Pitino has been hoping to unlock. He scored 24 points, hitting 9 of 16 shots, including 4 of 9 from three-point range. This marked the third time this season he crossed the 20-point threshold, with the last instance being against Baylor in Las Vegas.

If St. John’s is to maintain its momentum through a three-game winning streak, it relies heavily on Sellers’ role in the offense. His contribution is pivotal as they prepare for Saturday’s showdown with Villanova.

Sellers couldn’t hide his excitement after the victory, sharing, “Every shot going in early definitely feels good. It’s a good sign for me. But I try to stay aggressive, even if I miss. I know I’ll get back to it eventually.” His words reflect the confidence that he seems to be regaining.

He didn’t shy away from shooting against the Golden Eagles. Following Pitino’s guidance, he took the initiative, nailing a couple of three-pointers early in the game and creating scoring chances inside the paint.

Tuesday’s game featured a season-high 16 shots for Sellers, contributing to a remarkable streak where he’s made at least 10 shots in four consecutive games. His increased aggression seems to align perfectly with the team’s success, as he acknowledged needing to be more assertive after a disappointing outing against Harvard where he scored just four points. He followed up with 10 attempts against Providence, then 11 against both Butler and Creighton. It appears his shooting role is finally beginning to align with what the team needs.

“I thought Ojia was great from start to finish,” Pitino remarked after the match.

However, Pitino also noted that Sellers has room to grow, particularly in his assists and managing turnovers. He recorded two assists in the Marquette game and has only one turnover in six conference games, a trend reminiscent of his time at Stanford where he averaged just 1.1 turnovers per game.

The resurgence of the Red Storm can’t be attributed solely to Sellers; other elements—like a strong lineup and the emergence of teammates like Lefteris Liotopoulos—also play vital roles.

For Sellers to cement his comeback this season, consistency will be key. He’ll need to keep this level of play as the Big East season unfolds and intensified competition lays ahead, with hopes of earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

This is precisely why Pitino brought him on board. The Johnnies had previously relied on Aaron Scott for scoring, and the team now banks on RJ Lewis Jr. for production. As the season progresses, it’s evident that Sellers is starting to find his rhythm and embrace the aggressive play that Pitino envisioned.