The St. John’s offseason has defined itself by searching for a new center to fill the hole Zuby Ejiofor left. However, a recent miss in that search has left St. John’s desperately looking both at home and overseas for a big man. If head coach Rick Pitino doesn’t see any good fits, he may be looking for a player already on the roster to take the helm.
St. John’s Center Search Defines Offseason
This offseason has been an intriguing one for the Red Storm, with players leaving for the NBA Draft, such as Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins; the team needs some replacements. They also lost a few bigger names to the transfer portal, including Dylan Darling, who hit the game-winning layup against Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Johnnies must secure some significant recruits if they hope to three-peat as Big East Champions.
They had early success in getting a forward, similar in size to Ejiofor, named Donnie Freeman. Freeman dominated at Syracuse and was one of the most sought-after forwards in the portal. The 6’9″ sophomore has the ability to be a ‘Zuby” archetype; however, Pitino is still looking for a bonafide center. So far, Freeman is the Johnnies’ lone addition from the portal.
Massamba Diop Saga
The center that St. John’s had been very openly pursuing was Massamba Diop. Diop, a 7’1″ center from Arizona State, was possibly the most talented center to enter the transfer portal this offseason. The battle to land him quickly narrowed down to St. John’s and the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Diop toured both campuses, with St. John’s being his last stop this past weekend; the Johnnies waited with baited breath for a response. However, Diop committed to the Bulldogs on Tuesday, a big letdown for the Red Storm.
With this star center unavailable, St. John’s has a couple of options moving forward.
European Potential
Pitino is no stranger to European basketball. He coached in Greece for a few years during his time away from the NCAA. It follows that he knows how to get guys from overseas.
So far, two of St. John’s additions have come from Europe. Lazar Stojkovic, a center from Serbia, is one of these new players. So why not use him? That’s not really a possibility; with him only being 18 years old, it may be beneficial if he doesn’t jump into any giant roles immediately.
Existing Potential
With all these talks of guys from across the country and world coming to Queens, commentators often forget about the person who already has a locker. Rubén Prey, one of only a few returners for the Red Storm, shined brightly last season. Despite limited minutes due to the positive production from Ejiofor and Dillon Mitchell, Prey came to play in the Johnnies’ last game against Duke in the Sweet 16.
He went 4-4 from three-point range, and after blocking a shot from Cameron Boozer, the Red Storm were in a groove. However, Prey never saw any action in the second half, where St. John’s ultimately fell to the Blue Devils. The decision to bench the stunning sophomore drew criticism after the final whistle blew, as the momentum of the game slowly lapsed for the Johnnies following his removal.
If Prey can continue to improve as he enters his junior year, there is a very real possibility he can be the Johnnies’ starting center. But we will have to wait and see if Pitino has any more major moves planned.
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