College basketball is growing at an impressive pace. With the Name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal and transfer portal, players enjoy maximum benefits from their brand while maintaining their NCAA eligibility.
This also ensures that teams can improve their rosters and increase competition. St. John’s is ready to revolutionize the team with a massive NIL investment. Let’s explore what this means for the team.
A Needed Revival for St. John’s
Rick Pitino, who was hired by St. John’s in 2023, and billionaire Mike Repole, a graduate of the Class of 1999 at St. John’s, are working together for the greater good of the school.
Since Rick’s arrival, St. John’s has enjoyed multiple sweet 16 runs and an impressive final-four appearance.
These outstanding results and improvements in reputation have motivated billionaire Repole to financially support the basketball program at his alma mater. He has vowed to keep pouring in the funds needed for the team to thrive.
Notably, the NIL payroll for St. John in 2024/25 was about $4 million.
St. John’s Red Storm 2025-26 Vision
With a seven-figure investment around the corner for the 2025/26 season, St. John’s will field one of the priciest college basketball lineups, estimated to be around $5-$6 million.
Last season, Arkansas was the highest spender with over $7 million in NIL investment. Next season, St. John’s will move closer to the figure, which will mean signing the best players in the transfer portal and having enough funds to keep the players motivated.
Pitino will be thrilled, as this investment will enable him to assemble a basketball team that will dominate for years. With this 7-figure investment, a Sweet 16 run is all the more achievable, and the team should do better than they have always done.
Moreover, with positive results in the 2025/26 season, more funds could be pushed into the program.
KEEP READING: Top 10 NIL Deals in Men’s College Basketball
While the Red Storm fans are happy with the investment coming into the program, many are concerned about the rise of NIL. College basketball is supposed to help teams discover and nurture talents.
Still, with massive investments, a team can enter the portal and sign the players that fit their goals. While this is a good argument, the NCAA allows teams to do whatever is right for their team’s success.
With the Pitino-Repole era kicking off, St. John’s is ready for a better future. This 7-figure NIL Investment promises to contribute to the rise of the Red Storm and set them up for a better future.
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