Pitino’s Portal Power: The Success of St. John’s Offseason
Rick Pitino has been one of the most notorious basketball minds in the world for 40 years. His win-now mentality, confidence, and brutal honesty have been a recipe for thriving programs. Most importantly, his willingness to adapt to the continually changing game has led to consistent success. Pitino has heavily relied on the transfer portal to build his rosters since arriving in Queens, reviving the Red Storm’s program. With so many key players at the end of their eligibility, Pitino needed a successful offseason. So, he did what he did best and adapted.
The offseason got off to a rough start, marked by a disappointing early exit from the NCAA Tournament and the swift departure of RJ Luis. However, the program quickly got to work and bounced back, amassing the best transfer class in the entire nation according to 247 Sports. They immediately snagged rising sophomore Joson Sanon from Arizona State, who surpassed all expectations last season. Bryce Hopkins, when healthy, is one of the best forwards in the country and should have a significant impact. Oziyah Sellers flew under the radar as a high-rate sharpshooter. Both Ian Jackson and Dillon Mitchell were five-star talents in high school. With the influx of talent combined with the returning Zuby Ejiofor, there’s no doubt St. John's will be the Big East favorite heading into next season. Still, the primary concern is fit. Will these pieces be effective, and are they truly an upgrade over last year's?
Except for Aaron Scott, no starter will return to St. John's. Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith ran out of eligibility. Both RJ Luis and Simeon Wilcher went portal hopping, along with Brady Dunlap and Jaiden Glover, who were starting candidates. It’s a complete revamp, with a brand new roster Pitino can mold into his own. The primary area Pitino built upon was shooting. Last year’s team boasted an atrocious three-point percentage of 30.1%, or 281st in the country out of 734 effects. To put it simply, St. John’s barely shot threes and were ineffective when they did. It led to their downfall, as they only made two out of 22 threes in their loss to Arkansas. In hopes of continuing that trend, Pitino brought in Jackson, Sanon, and Sellers, who combined to shoot 38.8% from long distance. Compared to the outgoing guard trio of Richmond, Smith, and Wilcher, it’s an 11.3% increase. Last year's team was one-dimensional scoring-wise, with the majority of its makes coming from inside the arc at a 51% clip. The personnel on this roster next season has far more scoring versatility. Ejiofor, an All-American candidate next season, dominates the paint and leverages his size, strength, and footwork to score at the basket at will. Dillon Mitchell, a high-flying and tenacious athlete, plays best in the open court and offers an above-the-rim threat. Hopkins is a solid scorer off the dribble, offering an inside-out option. Both Sanon and Jackson excel scoring off the bounce, utilizing their crafty handles and smooth jumpers to knock down difficult shots. Sellers acts as a reliable jump shooter, shooting 60% from catch-and-shoot last season. The team now has the opportunity to be dynamic, with firepower coming from all areas of the court.
The roster still has its fair share of unanswered questions. No players brought in have demonstrated anything close to the playmaking abilities of Richmond and Smith. The average assists percentage of players brought in from their most recent seasons was a staggering 9.4%. This suggests no transfers acted as primary or even secondary playmakers for their teams last season. The lack of proven facilitation will raise concerns about how the offense will flow, especially in late-game scenarios. Jackson or Sanon must make a significant leap in playmaking for the Johnies to add another layer of complexity to their offense.
Building a roster that meets last year's defensive standards was going to be a daunting task for Pitino. The team was skilled both on the perimeter and the interior. While the interior is boosted with Hopkins and Mitchell next to Ejiofor, the question remains on the perimeter. Once again, the rising sophomore guard duo falls short defensively compared to Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith. A lot of pressure will be put on Aaron Scott, who proved to be a reliable defender last season. Mitchell's versatility and athleticism will be valuable in blocking passing lanes and adding additional pressure. The group won't reach last year's defensive heights, but the pieces are there to prevent a significant drop-off.
