Pitino Rebuilds St. John's Amid Major Roster Turnover

St. John's men's basketball, under coach Rick Pitino, had a landmark 2024-25 season by winning both the Big East regular season and tournament championships, though they were eliminated by Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament's second round. The team suffered major roster losses, including Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis Jr., guards Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith, Simeon Wilcher, and forwards Khaman Maker and Vince Iwuchukwu, all entering the transfer portal. Pitino responded by securing high-profile transfers, notably Ian Jackson from North Carolina, Oziyah Sellers from Stanford, Joson Sanon from Arizona State, and Bryce Hopkins from Providence. Jackson is expected to be a cornerstone as the new point guard. Pitino's success in adapting to the NIL and transfer portal landscape earned him the USBWA National Coach of the Year award. The program faces high expectations for next season despite ongoing roster volatility.