St. John’s basketball: Nahiem Alleyne calls Danny Hurley a ‘younger Pitino’

St. John’s basketball guard Nahiem Alleyne compared Danny Hurley and Rick Pitino. 

There will be no shortage of storylines in the Big East Conference this season and the St. John’s basketball program will be right in the middle of the conversation next to the Connecticut Huskies, the defending National Champions.

Both are led by two of the best coaches in the sport and one player who has experienced the coaching styles of Rick Pitino and Danny Hurley made an interesting comparison between the two.

Rick Pitino, the Hall of Famer, has already accomplished everything possible in the sport while Hurley appears to be on the track of reaching the same status as Pitino should he continue his winning ways in Storrs.

“I kind of joke about it but I feel like Coach Hurley is a younger Coach Pitino just how he gets after it,” St. John’s guard Nahiem Alleyne said at the Red Storm’s media day on Tuesday inside Carnesecca Arena.

ALSO READ: St. John’s loses another player to broken hand

“Coach Pitino is the formula in terms of knowing the X’s-and-O’s, he knows how to push guys, he knows how to get that dog out of you.”

Alleyne only played one season for Hurley and the Huskies and he will only play one season for Pitino and the Johnnies but the amount he’s already learned has been invaluable.

“[Pitino] has been in the [NBA], he’s been in the Big East…he knows everything so why not play for a legendary coach like him.”

St. John’s basketball guard ready to take leadership role

Nahiem Alleyne will likely serve as a key contributor off the bench for St. John’s after averaging 5.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game during UConn’s title run last season but his leadership and experience might be the most important aspect of his game to the Red Storm.

“There have only been a few of us that have played in the NCAA Tournament,” Alleyne said of the rest of the Johnnies roster. “And me, Coach Pitino, and Coach Taliek [Brown] are the only ones that have been in the National Championship and won it.”

ALSO READ: St. John’s eyeing massive, historic games for next season

Pitino led Kentucky and Louisville to championships in 1994 and 2013, respectively, while Brown won the 2004 National Title as a player with UConn.

“These guys are always asking questions about that run and I tell them about the mentality, details, and preparation that’s going to help you win games. The little things matter and that’s a big thing.”

St. John’s has not been in the NCAA Tournament since its First Four appearance under head coach Chris Mullin in 2019 and the Red Storm have not won a game in the Big Dance since 2000 with head coach Mike Jarvis.