The Athletic Way Too Early Top 25

Moose

Well-known member
These mean nothing but passing along.

Uconn 9, Creighton 19


17. St. John’s​

Projected starters: Portal Player TBD, Joson Sanon (transfer), Simeon Wilcher, Bryce Hopkins (transfer), Zuby Ejiofor
Notable returners: Vince Iwuchukwu, Ruben Prey, Lefteris Liotopoulos
Other newcomers: None

If Rick Pitino lands a stud guard, I’ll probably be inclined to move St. John’s into the top 10 because it’s Pitino. Sanon will likely benefit from his coaching and skill development and could become the next portal wonder — and he’s a guard who can make a 3, a weapon the Red Storm did not always have in 2024-25.

If Bryce Hopkins can stay healthy, that’s one of the better frontcourts in the country. Losing Big East player of the year RJ Luis was strange, but it is an opportunity to try to modernize by filling the perimeter spots with guys who can live beyond the 3-point line and in the midrange. Find guys who can do that and guard like this past bunch, and Pitino will be battling UConn for the Big East title.
 
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