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2025–26 St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team

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The 2025–26 St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represented St. John's University during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were coached by Rick Pitino, in his third year at the school and 37th overall. They played their home games at Carnesecca Arena and Madison Square Garden as members of the Big East Conference.

ConferenceBig East Conference
CoachesNo. 10
APNo. 10
Record30–7 (18–2 Big East)
Quick facts St. John's Red Storm men's basketball, Big East regular season & tournament champions ...
2025–26 St. John's Red Storm men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Sweet Sixteen
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 10
APNo. 10
Record30–7 (18–2 Big East)
Head coach
Associate head coachSteve Masiello
Assistant coaches
Captains
Home arenaCarnesecca Arena
Madison Square Garden
Seasons
← 2024–25
2026–27 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2025–26 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 10 St. John's †18–2 .90030–7  .811
No. 2 UConn17–3 .85034–6  .850
Villanova15–5 .75024–9  .727
Seton Hall10–10 .50021–12  .636
Creighton9–11 .45016–18  .471
DePaul8–12 .40016–16  .500
Marquette7–13 .35012–20  .375
Butler7–13 .35016–16  .500
Providence7–13 .35015–18  .455
Xavier6–14 .30015–18  .455
Georgetown6–14 .30016–18  .471
† 2026 Big East tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
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Previous season

The Red Storm had a breakout year under second year coach Rick Pitino where they finished the season 31–5, 18–2 in Big East play to win both the Big East regular season and tournament championship, and got a #2 seed to the NCAA Tournament. However, they lost to #10 seed Arkansas in the Round of 32.

Offseason

More information Name, Number ...
Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Aaron Scott06'7"210FSeniorSpring, TXGraduated, signed with the Boston Celtics
Kadary Richmond16'6"205GGS SeniorBrooklyn, NYGraduated, signed with the Washington Wizards
Deivon Smith56'0"175GSeniorDecatur, GAGraduated, signed with the Atlanta Hawks
Simeon Wilcher76'4"190GSophomorePlainfield, NJTransferred to Texas[1]
Vince Iwuchukwu87'1"250CJuniorLagos, NigeriaTransferred to Georgetown[2]
Jaiden Glover116'4"205G/FFreshmanBrooklyn, NYTransferred to St. Joseph's[3]
RJ Luis Jr.126'7"215G/FJuniorMiami, FLDeclared for 2025 NBA Draft/Undrafted, signed with the Utah Jazz
Khaman Maker147'2"220CFreshmanJuba, South SudanTransferred to DePaul[4]
Brady Dunlap446'7"190G/FRS SophomoreNewhall, CATransferred to Saint Louis[5]
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More information Name, Num ...
Incoming transfers
Name Num Pos Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Dylan Darling0G6'1"175RS JuniorSpokane, WAIdaho State
Dillon Mitchell1F6'8"205SeniorTampa, FLCincinnati
Joson Sanon3G6'5"200SophomoreFall River, MAArizona State
Oziyah Sellers4G6'5"190SeniorHayward, CAStanford
Ian Jackson11G6'5"195SophomoreThe BronxNorth Carolina
Bryce Hopkins23F6'7"225GS SeniorOak Park, ILProvidence
Handje Tamba44C6'11"240GS SeniorKinshasa, DRCMilligan
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Recruiting classes

2025 recruiting class

More information Name, Hometown ...
College recruiting
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Kelvin Odih
G		 Providence, RI Southern California Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Apr 30, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN:    (NR)
Casper Pohto
G		 Stockholm, Sweden Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jun 7, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (NR)
Fotis Konstantinidis
G		 Athens, Greece Proteas Voulas B.C. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg)  
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (NR)
Imran Suljanovic
SF		 Vienna, Austria Pallacanestro Reggiana (Italy) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Apr 22, 2025 
Recruit ratings: 247Sports: 4/5 stars   
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals.
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Preseason

The Big East preseason coaches poll was reached on October 21, 2025. All awards were voted on by the league's 11 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.

More information Big East Coaches, Points ...
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2025–26 St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Dylan Darling 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)175 lb (79 kg) RS JrIdaho State Spokane, WA
F 1 Dillon Mitchell (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) SrCincinnati Tampa, FL
F 2 Sadiku Ibine Ayo (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg) SrIona Asabi-Kumasi, Ghana
G 3 Joson Sanon 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg) SoArizona State Fall River, MA
G 4 Oziyah Sellers 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg) SrStanford Hayward, CA
G 5 Kelvin Odih 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)215 lb (98 kg) FrSoCal Academy Providence, RI
G 6 Casper Pohto Injured 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrSunrise Christian Academy Stockholm, Sweden
G 7 Fotis Konstantinidis 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrProteas Voulas B.C. Athens, Greece
G 11 Ian Jackson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoNorth Carolina Bronx, NY
F 17 Rubén Prey 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)230 lb (104 kg) SoJoventut Badalona Lisbon, Portugal
F 22 Imran Suljanovic Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) FrPallacanestro Reggiana Vienna, Austria
G/F 23 Bryce Hopkins 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) GSProvidence Oak Park, IL
F 24 Zuby Ejiofor (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)245 lb (111 kg) SrKansas Garland, TX
G 31 Lefteris Liotopoulos 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoDEKA Academy Thessaloniki, Greece
C 44 Handje Tamba 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)240 lb (109 kg) GSMilligan Kinshasa, DRC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

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Schedule and results

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 18, 2025*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 5 Towson W 73–63 
 13 – Hopkins  6 – 2 tied  4 – Hopkins  Carnesecca Arena (5,260)
Queens, NY
October 25, 2025*
7:00 p.m., BTN+		 No. 5 No. 7 Michigan
Bad Boy Mowers Series-New York		 L 94–96 OT
 24 – Ejiofor  9 – Hopkins  6 – Ejiofor  Madison Square Garden (13,287)
New York, NY
Regular season
November 3, 2025*
6:30 p.m., FS1		 No. 5 Quinnipiac W 108–74  1–0
  18 – Mitchell  7 – Mitchell  6 – Darling  Carnesecca Arena (5,260)
Queens, NY
November 8, 2025*
12:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 5 No. 15 Alabama L 96–103  1–1
  27 – Ejiofor  10 – Ejiofor  4 – Mitchell  Madison Square Garden (17,319)
New York, NY
November 15, 2025*
6:00 p.m., truTV		 No. 13 William & Mary W 93–60  2–1
  15 – 2 tied  6 – Odih  4 – Ejiofor  Carnesecca Arena (5,260)
Queens, NY
November 20, 2025*
7:00 p.m., TNT/truTV		 No. 14 Bucknell W 97–49  3–1
  20 – Tied  11 – Mitchell  5 – Darling  Carnesecca Arena (5,260)
Queens, NY
November 24, 2025*
4:30 p.m., truTV		 No. 14 vs. No. 15 Iowa State
Players Era Championship Game 1		 L 82–83  3–2
  20 – Sellers  9 – Tied  5 – Ejiofor  Michelob Ultra Arena 
Paradise, NV
November 25, 2025*
4:30 p.m., truTV		 No. 14 vs. Baylor
Players Era Championship Game 2		 W 96–81  4–2
  26 – Hopkins  6 – Tied  6 – Mitchell  Michelob Ultra Arena 
Paradise, NV
November 26, 2025*
8:00 p.m., truTV		 No. 14 vs. No. 21 Auburn
Players Era Championship consolation game		 L 74–85  4–3
  24 – Ejiofor  7 – Hopkins  4 – Mitchell  Michelob Ultra Arena 
Paradise, NV
December 6, 2025*
8:00 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN		 No. 23 Ole Miss W 63–58  5–3
  15 – Ejiofor  9 – Ejiofor  2 – Tied  Madison Square Garden (14,799)
New York, NY
December 13, 2025*
12:00 p.m., TNT/truTV		 No. 22 Iona
NYC Hoops for Heroes Classic		 W 91–64  6–3
  19 – Sellers  10 – Ejiofor  3 – Tied  Madison Square Garden (15,803)
New York, NY
December 16, 2025
7:00 p.m., Peacock		 No. 22 DePaul W 79–66  7–3
(1–0)		  17 – Darling  9 – Sanon  4 – Sellers  Carnesecca Arena (5,260)
Queens, NY
December 20, 2025*
12:30 p.m., CBS		 No. 22 vs. Kentucky
CBS Sports Classic		 L 66–78  7–4
  13 – Hopkins  6 – Jackson  3 – Tied  State Farm Arena 
Atlanta, GA
December 23, 2025*
6:00 p.m., FS1		 Harvard W 85–59  8–4
  14 – Tied  9 – Ejiofor  4 – Tied  Carnesecca Arena (5,260)
Queens, NY
December 31, 2025
8:12 p.m., FS1		 at Georgetown
Rivalry		 W 95–83  9–4
(2–0)		  25 – Ejiofor  10 – Tied  7 – Ejiofor  Capital One Arena (4,493)
Washington, D.C.
January 3, 2026
12:00 p.m., FOX		 Providence L 71–77  9–5
(2–1)		  33 – Ejiofor  15 – Ejiofor  3 – Sanon  Madison Square Garden (19,047)
New York, NY
January 6, 2026
7:00 p.m., Peacock		 at Butler W 84–70  10–5
(3–1)		  18 – Ejiofor  7 – Mitchell  5 – Mitchell  Hinkle Fieldhouse (6,523)
Indianapolis, IN
January 10, 2026
2:00 p.m., FS1		 at Creighton W 90–73  11–5
(4–1)		  17 – Liotopoulos  9 – Mitchell  6 – Ejiofor  CHI Health Center (17,185)
Omaha, NE
January 13, 2026
6:30 p.m., Peacock		 Marquette W 92–68  12–5
(5–1)		  24 – Sellers  8 – Tied  4 – Mitchell  Madison Square Garden (13,470)
New York, NY
January 17, 2026
8:00 p.m., Peacock		 at Villanova W 86–79  13–5
(6–1)		  20 – Hopkins  10 – Mitchell  3 – Darling  Xfinity Mobile Arena (14,899)
Philadelphia, PA
January 20, 2026
7:00 p.m., FS1		 Seton Hall W 65–60  14–5
(7–1)		  17 – Mitchell  11 – Mitchell  6 – Ejiofor  Madison Square Garden (13,776)
New York, NY
January 24, 2026
2:30 p.m., TNT/truTV		 at Xavier W 88–83  15–5
(8–1)		  18 – Hopkins  11 – Ejiofor  6 – Mitchell  Cintas Center (10,399)
Cincinnati, OH
January 28, 2026
7:00 p.m., Peacock		 No. 25 Butler W 92–70  16–5
(9–1)		  18 – Jackson  13 – Mitchell  5 – Ejiofor  Madison Square Garden (14,361)
New York, NY
February 3, 2026
8:00 p.m., Peacock		 No. 22 at DePaul W 68–56  17–5
(10–1)		  16 – Ejiofor  9 – Ejiofor  4 – Ejiofor  Wintrust Arena (4,595)
Chicago, IL
February 6, 2026
8:00 p.m., FOX		 No. 22 No. 3 UConn W 81–72  18–5
(11–1)		  21 – Ejiofor  10 – Ejiofor  7 – Ejiofor  Madison Square Garden (19,812)
New York, NY
February 9, 2026
6:30 p.m., FS1		 No. 17 Xavier W 87–82 OT 19–5
(12–1)		  25 – Ejiofor  12 – Mitchell  5 – Ejiofor  Madison Square Garden (14,512)
New York, NY
February 14, 2026
1:00 p.m., TNT/truTV		 No. 17 at Providence W 79–69  20–5
(13–1)		  23 – Darling  9 – Hopkins  6 – Mitchell  Amica Mutual Pavilion (11,714)
Providence, RI
February 18, 2026
9:00 p.m., TNT		 No. 17 at Marquette W 76–70  21–5
(14–1)		  23 – Hopkins  10 – Hopkins  5 – Darling  Fiserv Forum (14,389)
Milwaukee, WI
February 21, 2026
12:00 p.m., FOX		 No. 17 Creighton
Johnnies Day		 W 81–52  22–5
(15–1)		  17 – Darling  10 – Tied  7 – Mitchell  Madison Square Garden (19,328)
New York, NY
February 25, 2026
7:00 p.m., Peacock		 No. 15 at No. 6 UConn L 40–72  22–6
(15–2)		  10 – Sanon  5 – Tied  2 – Tied  PeoplesBank Arena 
Hartford, CT
February 28, 2026
8:00 p.m., FOX		 No. 15 Villanova W 89–57  23–6
(16–2)		  19 – Jackson  12 – Ejiofor  10 – Ejiofor  Madison Square Garden (19,812)
New York, NY
March 3, 2026
7:00 p.m., Peacock		 No. 18 Georgetown
Rivalry		 W 72–69  24–6
(17–2)		  23 – Ejiofor  7 – Ejiofor  6 – Mitchell  Madison Square Garden (14,319)
New York, NY
March 6, 2026
9:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 18 at Seton Hall W 72–65  25–6
(18–2)		  24 – Ejiofor  7 – Tied  7 – Mitchell  Prudential Center (9,554)
Newark, NJ
Big East tournament
March 12, 2026
12:00 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN		 (1) No. 13 (9) Providence
Quarterfinal		 W 85–72  26–6
  21 – Ejiofor  13 – Hopkins  5 – Ejiofor  Madison Square Garden (19,812)
New York, NY
March 13, 2026
5:30 p.m., FOX		 (1) No. 13 (4) Seton Hall
Semifinal		 W 78–68  27–6
  20 – Ejiofor  7 – Hopkins  5 – Mitchell  Madison Square Garden (19,812)
New York, NY
March 14, 2026
6:30 p.m., FOX		 (1) No. 13 (2) No. 6 UConn
Championship		 W 72–52  28–6
  18 – Tied  9 – Tied  5 – Darling  Madison Square Garden (19,812)
New York, NY
NCAA tournament
March 20, 2026*
7:10 p.m., CBS		 (5 E) No. 10 vs. (12 E) Northern Iowa
First round		 W 79–53  29–6
  14 – Ejiofor  11 – Ejiofor  5 – Darling  Viejas Arena (11,441)
San Diego, CA
March 22, 2026*
5:15 p.m., CBS		 (5 E) No. 10 vs. (4 E) No. 19 Kansas
Second round		 W 67–65  30–6
  18 – Tied  9 – Tied  4 – Tied  Viejas Arena (11,501)
San Diego, CA
March 27, 2026*
7:10 p.m., CBS		 (5 E) No. 10 vs. (1 E) No. 1 Duke
Sweet Sixteen		 L 75–80  30–7
  17 – Ejiofor  8 – Ejiofor  6 – Ejiofor  Capital One Arena (19,445)
Washington, D.C.
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
E=East.
All times are in Eastern Time.
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Source[12]

Awards and honors

More information Honors, Player ...
Preseason honors
Honors Player Position Date awarded Ref.
Preseason Big East Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor F October 21, 2025 [13]
Preseason All-Big East First Team Bryce Hopkins G/F
Preseason All-Big East Second Team Ian Jackson G
Preseason All-Big East Third Team Joson Sanon G
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Rankings

See also: 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP5131414232222RVRV—RVRV252217171518131010
Coaches6111615222120RV25RVRV2524221716151713910
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References

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