Rick Pitino has lived 1,000 Basketball Lives Duration of his legendary career as a coach, and is doing everything possible to write the perfect closing chapter in St. John’s. Facing 73 years in September, Pitino is the oldest coach of male or female university basketball. The Johnnies gave him a last opportunity to claim after his reputation was tarnished by the scandal in Louisville, and for a large part of last season, Pitin’s team seemed to glory in the largest national stages of sport.
Then, the worst nightmares of the red storm developed in the 32nd round, where their total lack of shots was exhibited in the strong focus of March, while it was also surpassed by an Arkansas team that looked like a traditional 10 seeds. The offensive was so ugly that Pitino had to bank the Big East player of the year RJ Luis in crunch time. St. John’s was eliminated, becoming the only 2 seeds not to do the Eight elite in a game where 222 of three fired.
This was always going to be a low season of change for the Johnnies with Colar Richmond, Deivon Smith and Aaron Scott losing their election. When Luis put his name on the transfer portal (while trying the NBA draft), it was clear that Pitino needed a mass transfer portal to maintain the impulse of the Renaissance of San Juan.
Praise Madison Square Garden and Vitamin Water, because Pitino has made it possible. Five new players have committed themselves to St. John’s in what suddenly resembles one of the best portal sets in the country. The incoming transfer class for the red storm adds high -end talent while maintaining the identity of the team last year with some added style. Meet the new Johnnies:
Ian Jackson, G, through North Carolina: Jackson was supposed to be a single corridor, but he obtained a duration of the Tar Heels background in an attempt season. New York’s native should feel at home with the Johnnies, leading the back track as a score guard that can make it rain from three and provide some edge pressure of the rebound.
Dillon Mitchell, F, through Cincinnati: Mitchell was a five -star recruit as a 6’8 hyperatlético striker, but has not yet reached its potential after two years in Texas and a season with the Bearcats. It will be a key defensive piece for Pitino as a tire and rebound protector, and can rinse the overtions at home if installed. Mitchell also made 10 triples last season after zero three in each of its first two years. It is a piece of versatile defensive chess with vertical spacing potential that should go very well to the San Juan core.
Joson Sanon, G, Via Arizona state: Sanon has tons of annotation to the wing wing while becoming his body and his skills set. He was on fire from three principles of his first year for the placement of the state of Arizona at the end of the year. He has a great framework for protection protection, and can introduce his way into middle -ranking shots when the offensive stagnates. Pitino could turn it into a defensive monster with its tools, but still needs a lot of refinement in that end.
Oziyah Sellers, G, Via Stanford: Sellers is a pure shooter in the wing like a thin guard of 6’5. He hit 40 percent of his three and 90 percent of his free throws in Stanford last season. It is a capture and shooting shooter that will help St. John’s balance the floor.
Bryce Hopkins, F, through providence: Hopkins looked like a university star in Providence before trying its LCA in the 2023-24 season. They tried to return last season, but it was limited to only three games before with a bone bruise. If this year is healthy, Hopkins has a ton of offensive advantages as a large background scorer (6’7, 225 pounds) that does his best job from the inside of the arch, but also has a potential for apartment of floors.
Last season, St. John’s finished number 2 in the country in defensive efficiency, but his offensive only held the number 68 mainly because lack of shots. There is no way that Johnnies shoot 30.1 percent from Deep Again this year, which he classified. 340 in Di: After adding so much talent to shoot. At the same time, there should be enough defensive spine about to harass their physical identity at that end, especially after the new types are indoctrine with Pitin’s principles.
The great return of St. John’s is the great Zuby Ejiofor man, who emerged as a bidirectional force in his third university season. Ejiofor, a center of 6’9, 240 pounds, recorded a blocking rate of approximately five percent and ended among the 30 best in the country in an offensive rebound rate. St. John’s will channel the drivers to their paint protection, and have a sick leap next to him in Mitchell will add a new dimension of edge protection.
There are also some other intriguing parts. Ruben Prey is a Spanish striker of 6’10 who did not put a lot on the floor as a first -year student, but he has the tools and the improvement of the ability to impact the game at both ends if he can win minute. Lefteris Liotopoulos obtained experience in the NCAA tournament last year and gives St. John’s another ball handling from the bank. There are also 6’8 Austrian forward Imran Suljanovic entering the program for next season.
The big question is the lack of play. Jackson is more scorer than a facilitator, and the same goes for Sanon. Fans and analysts will regret the lack of a traditional shipowner when the Johnnies will reach a difficult patch, but have fast ball manipulators, hard pockets and three -lived floor spacers of three of those concerns. The red storm can face hunting in isolation at the time of the postseason in a way that could not be able to not be able to last year on a busy floor. The shipowner game is essential in March, but these Johnnies could be difficult enough at both ends to overcome the absence of one.
Pitino probably does not have many years in the world of coaches, but will not go with a groan. With tons of a billionaire donor behind him and the promise of contributing emotion to MSG, St. John’s is prepared for another fascinating season to come. This team will have a little more balance that Pitino was missing last year after its additions to the portal.
