The talent is clear on paper for the St. John’s basketball team and the expectations are that Rick Pitino will have an NCAA Tournament squad during his second season in Queens, but there are still several questions that his players must answer.
Pitino provided a brief update on the Red Storm after Ed Kull was introduced as the new athletic director at the school on Tuesday.
“I think it’s early to tell,” the Hall of Famer said on how his team has looked during offseason workouts. “I think next week would be a better judgement.”
St. John’s made two major splashes in the transfer portal by adding Seton Hall star Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith, an electrifying guard from Utah. The Johnnies also landed North Texas wing Aaron Scott and Southern California center Vince Iwuchukwu.
It’s freshmen class, comprised of two international prospects, is still learning the ropes of college basketball.
Pitino explained that Portuguese rookie Ruben Prey arrived in Queens in “bad shape but the transformation in two weeks has been amazing.” He was noncommittal on Prey having a major impact this season but said he would be an “integral part of the team”.
Sophomore guard Simeon Wilcher and Scott have been the two most consistent performers through the team’s workouts, according to Pitino, but he still has questions about the team’s leadership in the absence of Daniss Jenkins.
“Daniss was so good [at being a leader], and this group is not that way,” he explained.
“Kadary, although he has a very good personality, he speaks softly but carries a big stick. So, he’s not Daniss in that area. I don’t know who’s going to emerge. I don’t think we have a Daniss to emerge leadership wise.”
Pitino called the leadership void his “biggest concern”.
St. John’s will play Rutgers in a charity exhibition on October 17 in Piscataway prior to opening the season on November 4 against Fordham inside Carnesecca Arena.
