Hopkins looks like Francesa next to those guys.
2025-2026 Season
- Thread starter paultzman
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Hopkins looks like Francesa next to those guys.
No way he's 10% BF.
is Jax the only one on campus.... lets get the Providence trio down to Queens lol
don_pitino
Well-known member
Coach Walsh said on Dave's the team doesn't get together until the 16th. I think Sellers might also be in NY as of now.
Edit: I'd also add that I'm ok with the Providence trio grinding together up in Providence. Coach Nick seems like a great trainer and they're putting in work
don_pitino
Well-known member
Update: Dylan darling is in NY
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jimredd517
Well-known member
Great clip Dave. How nice will it be this year to have lights out shooters all over the court. Loved last years team but their shooting could hurt your eyes most times. It will be a challenge to cover all these shooters this year.... can't wait!
The difference in previous eras would be we'd basically only be relying on Lefty to be our shooter. It is great that we don't need to this year. I think he needs more consistent playing time to get into a rhythm and isn't predicated on him shooting a 3 from a set play, but he'll have to really earn those minutes now. Happy he stayed, and think we can be surprised by a soph to junior jump the following year.
Lefty’s biggest challenge imo will be improving his on ball defending. I do believe he is a well schooled, smart player who will continue to improve. This team is also built to run like gazelles, not his strong suit. However, Lefty in transition imo will be adept at finding his spot for perimeter shots off breaks. All in all, he seems like a good bench piece.
Boy this team is deep.
Boy this team is deep.
He also is a wizard passing the ball. The touch he has passing is arguably his best asset. Get him the ball on the break, and let the athletes run, he will find them. I see some Lefty to Dillon Mitchell lobs in our future
Interesting Zach article on our next season and seasons to come.
https://nypost.com/2025/06/06/sports/st-johns-becoming-cool-again-was-a-major-transfer-portal-draw/
The factor beyond Rick Pitino that turned St. John’s into major transfer portal draw
By
Published June 6, 2025, 6:36 p.m. ET
St. John's celebrates after winning the Big East Tournament championship on March 15, 2025. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Typically, when St. John’s lands a transfer or a recruit, the player first mentions Rick Pitino, his history of skill development and résumé of producing NBA players.
That, of course, happened this spring plenty. But just as much as Pitino was a draw for players, so was this past season.
Every single one of the newcomers raved about the breakthrough 31-win year in Queens and the national buzz the Johnnies created.
“The conversation doesn’t start without this year’s success,” agent Derek Malloy of Lift Sports Management told The Post in early April.
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RJ Luis Jr. dunks the ball during St. John’s NCAA Tournament game against Omaha on March 20. Charles Wenzelberg
More From Zach Braziller
He was referring to the recruitment of his client, Arizona State transfer Joson Sanon, the first of several projected difference-makers to join St. John’s. But many others voiced a similar sentiment, the Johnnies beating out plenty of elite programs for its top-rated transfer class. It was a big spring for Pitino and Co., adding the likes of Sanon, Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Dillon Mitchell (Cincinnati), Oziyah Sellers (Stanford), Dylan Darling (Idaho State) and Bryce Hopkins (Providence). The transfer class has the Red Storm positioned to not only be ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1999, but possibly in the top five. The roster is that loaded.
What should not be forgotten is the role last year’s team had in St. John’s recruiting success. It’s unfortunately the way of college basketball now, that even after such a big year, the roster will look completely different. Zuby Ejiofor is the lone returning starter. Only three other contributors — Lefteris Liotopoulos, Ruben Prey and Sadiku Ibine Ayo — will be back. Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott and Deivon Smith exhausted their eligibility, while RJ Luis opted to go pro and Brady Dunlap, Simeon Wilcher, Vince Iwuchkwu, Jaiden Glover and Khaman Maker decided to transfer.
4
Rick Pitino coaches from the sideline during the St. John’s NCAA Tournament game against Arkansas on March 22. Charles Wenzelberg
They should all be remembered fondly. Without their contributions — some small, others more significant — the program isn’t in the spot it now occupies. They made St. John’s matter again. They made the school an attractive option. They helped turn Garden games into an event, proving that in a pro town, college basketball can still be a draw.
St. John’s became cool again.
“That’s big. When you win in New York, people are going to show up,” Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 defensive dynamo, said after his commitment. “It looked like a lot of fun. When you look at it like that, there’s no reason why you could say no [to coming here].”
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Joson Sanon drives with the ball during Arizona State’s game against Texas Tech on March 8. AP
Said Sellers, the Stanford transfer: “That was definitely something I was aware of. I feel like most of the country was kind of aware of that if you were a basketball fan.”
Obviously, you can’t discount the money factor, and St. John’s is in strong financial standing, near the top of the Big East when it comes to Name, Image & Likeness. That doesn’t happen, either, without winning. Donors want a return on their investments, and they got that last winter, creating an even stronger desire to contribute.
4
Dillon Mitchell drives with the ball during Cincinnati’s game March 12. Imagn Images
The job of next year’s team is to take the next step. To not only reach March Madness, but play deep into the month. That opportunity is there for a lot of reasons, and Pitino and his staff are clearly at the top of the list. Last season’s team accomplishments, however, should be remembered if next winter turns out to be as promising as so many experts expect.
“Without question, they just took us to a new level completely, winning the Big East and winning the Big East Tournament, getting to the NCAA [Tournament],” Pitino said. “It put us on the national map. We’re now a national story. We’re not a local story. We’re probably going to be ranked top five or top 10 in the nation, and that’s because of what this team did.”
And the rich get richer...
By
Zach Braziller
Published June 7, 2025, 8:40 p.m. ET
Comments
Swedish guard Casper Pohto, who visited St. John's earlier in the week, verbally committed to the Red Storm on June 7, 2025.@WTMSportsGroup / X
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Zach Braziller about the inside buzz on St. John’s.
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Rick Pitino and St. John’s continued to add to next year’s already formidable roster on Saturday.
The Red Storm landed a verbal commitment from Swedish guard Casper Pohto, he told The Post.
The 6-foot-4 combo guard came to America at the age of 16 and spent this past season playing for Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas.
He also played in high school at local powerhouse St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark.
Pohto averaged 14 points, six rebounds and 2.4 assists last summer in the FIBA U18 Eurobasket tournament for Sweden.
He adds even more depth to a perimeter attack that has brought in high-level transfers in Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Oziyah Sellers (Stanford), Joson Sanon (Arizona State) and Dylan Darling (Idaho State), along with four-star high school wing Kelvin Odih.
Swedish guard Casper Pohto, who visited St. John’s earlier in the week, verbally committed to the Red Storm on June 7, 2025. @WTMSportsGroup / X
Pohto visited St. John’s early in the week and didn’t feel the need to wait any longer.
“I got a new agent [Clay Milnes of WTM Sports Group] and he basically showed them my film, and they liked it. We went from there,” he said. “Knowing them for a little while now, I feel like they have a very good, established program and a very good coach who really cares about the players and development on and off the court.
Casper Pohto came to America at the age of 16 and spent this past season playing for Sunrise
Christian Academy in Kansas. @WTMSportsGroup / X
“I feel like it’s going to be a great opportunity for me to develop as a player. I think it’s going to be a great year playing with a lot of great teammates now that are really good. They’re going to help me, I’m going to help them.”
Pohto will be the fourth international player on the roster — joining rising sophomores Lefteris Liotopoulos and Ruben Prey, and incoming freshman Imran Suljanovic.
Seeing immediate playing time could be difficult on such a loaded roster, but he is thrilled about the chance to play for a Hall of Fame coach and join a program with such high hopes for next season.
What do you think? Post a comment.
“My expectations are the same wherever I go: Just go there, do my best, work hard and do what the coach asks me to do,” Pohto said. “There’s no place where you’re guaranteed anything, and that’s what comes with basketball.”
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https://nypost.com/2025/06/07/sports/amanda-nunes-kayla-harrison-would-be-dream-fight/
St. John’s gets verbal commitment from Swedish guard Casper Pohto
By Zach Braziller
Published June 7, 2025, 8:40 p.m. ET
Comments
Access the St. John's beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Zach Braziller about the inside buzz on St. John’s.[
Rick Pitino and St. John’s continued to add to next year’s already formidable roster on Saturday.
The Red Storm landed a verbal commitment from Swedish guard Casper Pohto, he told The Post.
The 6-foot-4 combo guard came to America at the age of 16 and spent this past season playing for Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas.
He also played in high school at local powerhouse St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark.
Pohto averaged 14 points, six rebounds and 2.4 assists last summer in the FIBA U18 Eurobasket tournament for Sweden.
He adds even more depth to a perimeter attack that has brought in high-level transfers in Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Oziyah Sellers (Stanford), Joson Sanon (Arizona State) and Dylan Darling (Idaho State), along with four-star high school wing Kelvin Odih.
Pohto visited St. John’s early in the week and didn’t feel the need to wait any longer.
“I got a new agent [Clay Milnes of WTM Sports Group] and he basically showed them my film, and they liked it. We went from there,” he said. “Knowing them for a little while now, I feel like they have a very good, established program and a very good coach who really cares about the players and development on and off the court.
Christian Academy in Kansas. @WTMSportsGroup / X
“I feel like it’s going to be a great opportunity for me to develop as a player. I think it’s going to be a great year playing with a lot of great teammates now that are really good. They’re going to help me, I’m going to help them.”
Pohto will be the fourth international player on the roster — joining rising sophomores Lefteris Liotopoulos and Ruben Prey, and incoming freshman Imran Suljanovic.
Seeing immediate playing time could be difficult on such a loaded roster, but he is thrilled about the chance to play for a Hall of Fame coach and join a program with such high hopes for next season.
What do you think? Post a comment.
“My expectations are the same wherever I go: Just go there, do my best, work hard and do what the coach asks me to do,” Pohto said. “There’s no place where you’re guaranteed anything, and that’s what comes with basketball.”
FILED UNDER
READ NEXT
https://nypost.com/2025/06/07/sports/amanda-nunes-kayla-harrison-would-be-dream-fight/
If development is truly what you are after, why not spend a redshirt freshmen year under coach Pitino and then at that point both make a decision what to do?
I’m not saying he’s definitely a redshirt, just that kids are making money staying in college and you get 5 years to play 4.
I’m not saying he’s definitely a redshirt, just that kids are making money staying in college and you get 5 years to play 4.
“St. John's narrowly got the top spot. The Red Storm had huge success last season leaning on a talented perimeter group built from the transfer portal, and they're hoping to do the same in 2025-26. Rick Pitino landed five top-100 transfers, led by former first-team All-Big East selection Hopkins and former top-25 recruits Jackson and Sanon. Sellers adds shooting, and Mitchell brings an intriguing amount of versatility. Jackson and Sanon are not natural point guards, so Darling provides insurance at that position”.
they lost me at "last season ... talented perimeter group."
They were a talented perimeter group they just weren't talented from the perimeter.
