Rick Pitino is making the headlines again, not for his legendary coaching legacy this time but for reshaping St. John’s basketball through the transfer portal. After just one season at the forefront, Pitino has already begun to add significant talent to the Red Storm’s team.
More recently, he brought in four four-star transfers, a group with fans buzzing and expectations rising around Queens.
St. John’s Gets a Quartet of Game Changers
Each of the four incoming transfers brings something unique, but they all share one common goal. They’re ready to make an immediate impact.
Ian Jackson
Jackson started off as one of the most high-profile transfers of the offseason. He was a top-10 recruit out of high school who initially committed to North Carolina. While at UNC, he averaged 11.9 points and displayed a gift for hitting clutch shots.
As he returns to his New York roots, Jackson offers St. John’s an energetic scoring guard with first-class athleticism and playmaking ability. His transfer clearly states that Pition is attracting big names to the Big Apple.
Joson Sanon
After a fantastic freshman season in which he averaged 11.9 points and 3.4 rebounds and displayed significant defensive potential, Sanon, a top-25 recruit in the country, departed Arizona State. 6’5″, he’s a true two-way guard who can lock up opponents while creating his shot.
With Pitino’s emphasis on discipline and defense, Sanon perfectly matches the Red Storm’s evolving identity.
Bryce Hopkins
The former Providence player gives the Red Storm frontcourt much-needed Big East experience and versatility. Hopkins is renowned for his ability to generate offensive mismatches and his toughness while grabbing rebounds. He’ll be a key player in the starting lineup since he’s conversant with the league and can lead by example.
Oziyah Sellers
Coming over from Stanford, Sellers is a wing who contributes on both ends of the court. And while his stats may not pop off the page, his perimeter defense and floor-spacing ability are invaluable. In Pitino’s system, a role player like Seller will thrive and become a key contributor.
Pitino’s Strategic Revamp
Beyond using eye-catching names, Pinito is making a deliberate personnel change to mold the squad into what he wants: a team designed to run, rugged, and defensively sound. Pitino, renowned for getting the most out of versatile, multi-skilled players, has assembled a significantly more athletic, positionless, and hungrier lineup than supporters saw last season.
In addition to talent, he prioritizes chemistry and systems in his players. He’s striking a balance between potential and output with these four-star players, who have already competed at the Power 5 level and are keen to perform on a larger scale.
Alongside the incoming transfers, Zuby Ejiofor is returning as a forward. Pitino commended the returning striker for his exceptional work ethic and said he remains a vital team member.
Pitino recently said, “Nobody on the team works like Zuby, and I truly believe that if some of our players would work like him, they’d be the top players in the Big East.” Setting standards like that says a lot about the culture Pitino is creating.
St. John’s has a real chance to contend for the Big East championship with these new, elite transfers and the returning core. It’s not just about rebuilding anymore; competing is now the goal.
KEEP READING: 2025 Men’s College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker
St. John’s has spent years figuring out its basketball identity without mincing it. With Pitino at the controls and a transfer class that ranks among the finest in the nation, the Red Storm could finally be moving back to national significance. It is a squad to watch out for because of the combination of coaching experience, talent, and pedigree.
As the portal continues to shape the college basketball landscape, Pitino is one of the few coaches navigating it well, and the Red Storm supporters benefit from it.
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