St. John’s basketball getting started on looming chaotic offseason

St. John’s basketball is already getting started on what should be a chaotic offseason. 

The offseason entering the 2021-22 college basketball season could be the most chaotic of all time and the St. John’s basketball team is looking to get a head start.

The NCAA passed a rule that all seniors are allowed an extra year of eligibility given the uncertainties of the 2020-21 season during the coronavirus pandemic, but the NCAA is also scheduled to pass a one-time rule where transfers do not have to sit out for a year if leaving their original program.

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Essentially, it would create a ‘free agent-like’ atmosphere in college basketball for those players who have not yet transferred in their career.

The NCAA’s Division I Council is expected to vote on the topic in April at the Final Four, according to multiple reports.

St. John’s basketball getting started on offseason

However, St. John’s is already getting started in reaching out to potential transfer candidates in Vermont’s Stef Smith and Florida International’s Antonio Daye Jr. 

According to Jake Weingarten of Stock Risers, Daye Jr. is expected to make his decision by the end of March after recently completing virtual visits with Clemson, Marquette, and Providence.

Along with St. John’s, Pittsburgh, Missouri, and Cincinnati have also reached out to the 6-foot-1 junior guard.

Daye Jr. announced on Twitter that he will be releasing his Top-4 schools next week.

The Durham, North Carolina native averaged 17.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 45.5-percent from the field and 28.9-percent from three-point range.

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Vermont’s Stef Smith could be a familiar face for those around Queens as he scored 17 points in the Catamount’s upset victory over the Red Storm last season.

Smith is a 6-foot-2 guard from Ajax, Ontario and averaged 13.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game as a senior while shooting 40.3-percent from the floor and 36.0-percent from three-point range.

As a junior, Smith shot 42.3-percent from beyond the arc and since entering the transfer portal has heard from Providence, UConn, Marquette, Nebraska, Colorado State, Arkansas, Florida, Santa Clara, St. Mary’s, and Mississippi State among many others.

St. John’s ended the season with a loss to Seton Hall in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament after finishing in fourth place in the conference’s regular season standings.