2025-2026 Season

Zach's BE report for the '25-'26 season


How St. John’s new-look roster matches up against Big East foes as co-favorite​

By
Zach Braziller
Published June 12, 2025, 9:19 p.m. ET
Comments

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The favorites​

St. John’s​

After winning the Big East regular season and the postseason tournament, Rick Pitino reloaded, bringing in the nation’s No. 1 transfer class.
St. John's added former North Carolina guard Ian Jackson in the transfer portal this offseason.7
St. John’s added former North Carolina guard Ian Jackson in the transfer portal this offseason. AP

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Expectations are through the roof in Queens for a group led by potential Big East preseason Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor and an influx of highly regarded newcomers that includes Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Dillon Mitchell (Cincinnati), Joson Sanon (Arizona State), Dylan Darling (Idaho State), Bryce Hopkins (Providence) and Oziyah Sellers (Stanford).

Connecticut​

The Huskies added impact transfer guards Silas Demary Jr. (Georgia) and Malachi Smith (Dayton), a top four high school recruiting class, and they return three of their top four leading scorers from a year ago.
They’ll need to be better defensively after finishing 75th in efficiency a year ago.
But, led by sharpshooting guard Solo Ball and versatile forward Alex Karaban, UConn should be one of the premier offensive teams in the country and a top 10 mainstay.
UConn added impact transfer guard Silas Demary Jr. (Georgia) this offseason.7
UConn added impact transfer guard Silas Demary Jr. (Georgia) this offseason. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Contender​

Creighton​

The Bluejays narrowly missed being included in the above category.
While they lose superstar two-way center Ryan Kalkbrenner and shotmaking point guard Steven Ashworth, they kept impressive rising sophomore wing Jackson McAndrew and improving forward Jasen Green, a rising junior.
That duo will be joined by a top-notch transfer class featuring explosive Iowa tandem Josh Dix and Owen Freeman, high-scoring Charlotte guard Nik Graves and Blake Harper, the MEAC Player and Rookie of the Year out of Howard.
Guard Josh Dix, who previously played for Iowa, was a key acquisition in the transfer portal for Creighton.7
Guard Josh Dix, who previously played for Iowa, was a key acquisition
in the transfer portal for Creighton. Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Dark Horses​

Providence​

Kim English had a solid offseason, bringing in the SEC’s eighth-leading scorer in Jason Edwards from Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech forward Duncan Powell and Florida State guard Daquan Davis, among others.
He also kept promising freshmen Oswin Erhunmwunse and Ryan Mela.
Coming off a year in which the Friars suffered their most losses (20) since 1984-85, English needs a breakthrough in his third season, or calls for his job could begin.
Vanderbilt's Jason Edwards transferred to Providence this offseason.7
Vanderbilt’s Jason Edwards transferred to Providence this offseason. Getty Images

Marquette​

Marquette continued to ignore the transfer portal, unheard of in this era of player movement. Shaka Smart is betting on development after losing his top three players — Kam Jones, Stevie Mitchell and David Joplin — to graduation.
The fifth-year Marquette coach will need someone to take a major step forward for the Golden Eagles to reach the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season.

Everything has to go right​

Villanova​

Kevin Willard will have his hands full in his first season on the Main Line.
The good news: The bar is low after his predecessor, Kyle Neptune, failed to get the Wildcats into the NCAA Tournament each of the past three years.
New Villanova coach Kevin Willard, formerly with Seton Hall, will need some time to rebuild the one-time dominant program.7
New Villanova coach Kevin Willard, formerly with Seton Hall, will need some time to rebuild the one-time dominant program. Bill Kostroun for New York Post
The bad news: Six of Villanova’s top seven scorers are gone, and Willard was unable to bring standouts Rodney Rice and Ja’Kobi Gillespie with him from Maryland.
He did add top 50 high school recruit Acaden Lewis, a one-time Kentucky signee, and land transfers Bryce Lindsay (James Madison) and Devin Askew (Long Beach State).
Patience will be required.

Georgetown​

Georgetown lost four of its top five scorers from a year ago, most notably star big man Thomas Sorber, who went pro after one season with Ed Cooley.
Newcomers Langston Love (Baylor) and KJ Lewis (Arizona) should be solid additions to a backcourt that returns third-leading scorer Malik Mack.
Baylor transfer Langston Love should give a lift to Georgetown's backcourt.7
Baylor transfer Langston Love should give a lift to Georgetown’s backcourt. Zachary Taft-Imagn Images
But the frontcourt is at best a major question mark without Sorber and departed forward Drew Fielder.

Butler​

A top 20 high school recruiting class and a few nice transfer additions, led by Gonzaga’s Michael Ajayi and Purdue Fort Wayne’s Jalen Jackson, could lead to a top-half Big East finish for the Bulldogs.
Keep an eye on well-rounded point guard Finley Bizjack as a breakout candidate.

Xavier​

Richard Pitino had to basically start over after replacing Sean Miller at Xavier, and he went the mid-major route in filling out his roster, adding double-digit scorers Tre Carroll (Florida Atlantic), Malik Moore (Montana), Mier Panoam (North Dakota), Gabriel Pozzato (Evansville), Isaiah Walker (Belmont) and All Wright (Valparaiso). An impossible team to project.

Nowhere near ready​

DePaul​

Chris Holtmann brought respectability to DePaul, winning 14 games in his first season (the Blue Demons had won 13 the previous two years combined).
With starters CJ Gunn, Layden Blocker and NJ Benson all returning, along with high-scoring Tulane transfer wing Kaleb Banks, maybe DePaul can post its first winning season since 2018-19.
Shaheen Holloway's Pirates likely will struggle again this season.7
Shaheen Holloway’s Pirates likely will struggle again this season. Getty Images

Seton Hall​

The Pirates finished in the Big East basement last year during a nightmarish seven-win campaign, and it’s not clear their roster has improved.
What do you think? Be the first to comment.
Losing leading scorer and rebounder Isaiah Coleman to Oklahoma State will sting.
The hope is that “up” transfers like Merrimack guard Adam “Budd” Clark, Fordham wing Joshua Rivera and Pacific guard Elijah Fisher can be part of a turnaround.
 
The season begins today!!!

New St. John’s trio training together in chemistry head start with expectations high​

By
Zach Braziller
Published June 16, 2025, 6:00 a.m. ET
Comments
From left to right: Joson Sanon, Nick Correia, Bryce Hopkins and Kelvin Odih work out together.
From left to right: Joson Sanon, Nick Correia, Bryce Hopkins and Kelvin Odih work out together. Instagram / @coach_nick_performance


Access the St. John’s beat like never before​

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On Monday, new-look St. John’s will come together for the first time. It is the start of summer workouts for a group with immensely high expectations.
But three new Johnnies — Bryce Hopkins, Joson Sanon and Kelvin Odih — have gotten a head start in getting to know one another.
The trio have been working out together with strength and conditioning coach Nick Correia, doing their best to arrive in Queens fit.
“I saw a picture of our guys physically and it was kind of incredible looking at the physical presence of these guys,” coach Rick Pitino said, referring to the aforementioned trio.

Correia has trained Sanon, an Arizona State transfer with NBA potential, since he was in the eighth grade. Hopkins, a Providence transfer, and Odih just recently began training with him.
He thought it would be a good idea to get them together, since they were all living close to one another. They had seven sessions together.

Hopkins was finishing up at Providence, Sanon was back home in Fall River, Mass., and Odih, a four-star high school recruit, is a Providence native.
“The planets just kind of lined up. They’re all local,” Correia, a former Division III basketball coach at UMass Dartmouth who also trains Knicks point guard Tyler Kolek, told The Post over the phone. “I just told them, ‘Listen, we got three guys in the area — they know each other, too — we’re going to get the ball rolling together, so you guys have some sweat equity.’ We made the most of it. They did a great job. You would’ve swore they’ve been teammates for a season or two. They were pushing each other, a lot of high-fives, very focused, challenging each other to be better.”
Of all the new St. John’s players, Hopkins is among the most intriguing. He only played in three games this past season, as he was still recovering from a torn ACL.

EXPLORE MORE​

Ian Jackson (left) and Silas Demary Jr.

How St. John’s new-look roster matches up against Big East foes as co-favorite​

Mike Repole with jockey John Velazquez and Rick Pitino (inset)

St. John’s donor Mike Repole and Rick Pitino horses strike out at Belmont Stakes​

Swedish guard Casper Pohto, who visited St. John's earlier in the week, verbally committed to the Red Storm on June 7, 2025.

St. John’s gets verbal commitment from Swedish guard Casper Pohto​

But the 6-foot-7 Hopkins, an All-Big East first team selection back in 2022-23, has said he is healthy.
Pitino was impressed by him during a workout back in late March, when Hopkins visited ahead of his commitment. Correia hasn’t noticed any limitations.
“How does he look to me? He looks like he’s going to be a problem for the rest of the teams in the Big East to cover,” Correia said. “Range of motion is excellent. He’s explosive, he’s strong, he’s more than 100 percent.”
Providence Friars basketball player Bryce Hopkins dribbling the ball.
Bryce Hopkins only played in three games this past season, as he was still recovering from a torn ACL. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 6-foot-5 Sanon was a top 25 high school prospect whom some thought had a chance to be one-and-done at Arizona State.
He started and finished well. In between, he battled an ankle injury that slowed his progress.
He averaged 11.9 points and shot 36.9 percent from 3-point range on 4.5 attempts.
What do you think? Post a comment.
After testing the NBA draft waters, he opted to wait to go pro following workouts with the Wizards, Celtics and Hornets.
“They are getting a kid that’s one in a million, in my opinion. He comes from an amazing family. He is a hard, hardworking young man. He’s a great kid,” Correia said. “I have a great relationship with ‘Jo’. … He’s the type of kid that sets an example with his work ethic, whether you’re a young kid coming in the gym and you’re watching him. He met my wife for the first time, he stood up, shook her hand, looked her in the eyes, gave my son a high-five. He does a lot for the community.”
 
gregbodkin said:
The season begins today!!!

New St. John’s trio training together in chemistry head start with expectations high​

By
Zach Braziller
Published June 16, 2025, 6:00 a.m. ET
Comments
From left to right: Joson Sanon, Nick Correia, Bryce Hopkins and Kelvin Odih work out together.
From left to right: Joson Sanon, Nick Correia, Bryce Hopkins and Kelvin Odih work out together. Instagram / @coach_nick_performance

​

Access the St. John’s beat like never before​

Get Zach Braziller’s text messages with all the latest St. John’s info and get your questions answered — exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.
SIGN UP NOW
On Monday, new-look St. John’s will come together for the first time. It is the start of summer workouts for a group with immensely high expectations.
But three new Johnnies — Bryce Hopkins, Joson Sanon and Kelvin Odih — have gotten a head start in getting to know one another.
The trio have been working out together with strength and conditioning coach Nick Correia, doing their best to arrive in Queens fit.
“I saw a picture of our guys physically and it was kind of incredible looking at the physical presence of these guys,” coach Rick Pitino said, referring to the aforementioned trio.

Correia has trained Sanon, an Arizona State transfer with NBA potential, since he was in the eighth grade. Hopkins, a Providence transfer, and Odih just recently began training with him.
He thought it would be a good idea to get them together, since they were all living close to one another. They had seven sessions together.

Hopkins was finishing up at Providence, Sanon was back home in Fall River, Mass., and Odih, a four-star high school recruit, is a Providence native.
“The planets just kind of lined up. They’re all local,” Correia, a former Division III basketball coach at UMass Dartmouth who also trains Knicks point guard Tyler Kolek, told The Post over the phone. “I just told them, ‘Listen, we got three guys in the area — they know each other, too — we’re going to get the ball rolling together, so you guys have some sweat equity.’ We made the most of it. They did a great job. You would’ve swore they’ve been teammates for a season or two. They were pushing each other, a lot of high-fives, very focused, challenging each other to be better.”
Of all the new St. John’s players, Hopkins is among the most intriguing. He only played in three games this past season, as he was still recovering from a torn ACL.

EXPLORE MORE​

Ian Jackson (left) and Silas Demary Jr.

How St. John’s new-look roster matches up against Big East foes as co-favorite​

Mike Repole with jockey John Velazquez and Rick Pitino (inset)

St. John’s donor Mike Repole and Rick Pitino horses strike out at Belmont Stakes​

Swedish guard Casper Pohto, who visited St. John's earlier in the week, verbally committed to the Red Storm on June 7, 2025.'s earlier in the week, verbally committed to the Red Storm on June 7, 2025.

St. John’s gets verbal commitment from Swedish guard Casper Pohto​

But the 6-foot-7 Hopkins, an All-Big East first team selection back in 2022-23, has said he is healthy.
Pitino was impressed by him during a workout back in late March, when Hopkins visited ahead of his commitment. Correia hasn’t noticed any limitations.
“How does he look to me? He looks like he’s going to be a problem for the rest of the teams in the Big East to cover,” Correia said. “Range of motion is excellent. He’s explosive, he’s strong, he’s more than 100 percent.”
Providence Friars basketball player Bryce Hopkins dribbling the ball.
Bryce Hopkins only played in three games this past season, as he was still recovering from a torn ACL. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 6-foot-5 Sanon was a top 25 high school prospect whom some thought had a chance to be one-and-done at Arizona State.
He started and finished well. In between, he battled an ankle injury that slowed his progress.
He averaged 11.9 points and shot 36.9 percent from 3-point range on 4.5 attempts.
What do you think? Post a comment.
After testing the NBA draft waters, he opted to wait to go pro following workouts with the Wizards, Celtics and Hornets.
“They are getting a kid that’s one in a million, in my opinion. He comes from an amazing family. He is a hard, hardworking young man. He’s a great kid,” Correia said. “I have a great relationship with ‘Jo’. … He’s the type of kid that sets an example with his work ethic, whether you’re a young kid coming in the gym and you’re watching him. He met my wife for the first time, he stood up, shook her hand, looked her in the eyes, gave my son a high-five. He does a lot for the community.”
Click to expand...
I give Sanon credit. He has some stuff in common with White Chocolate. He lifts his shirt to show a six pack for a pic. White chocolate had to lift his shirt in front of glen cove police at 18 years old trying to hide a six pack at gravies point beach on a Friday night
 
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