St. John’s basketball loses another player to broken hand

The St. John’s basketball program has lost another player due to a broken hand. 

There is a theme among the early injures with the St. John’s basketball team and it’s not a good trend.

Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino announced on Tuesday at the program’s media day in Carnesecca Arena that sophomore guard Cruz Davis has been sidelined due to a broken hand.

It’s the second time the injury has hit a Johnnie this month after UMass transfer RJ Luis suffered a broken hand during the team’s public scrimmage on October 1.

Both players are expected to miss the beginning of the season but should return around the timeline of when St. John’s travels to South Carolina to play in the Charleston Classic.

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“[They] will be out anywhere between three and six weeks,” Pitino said. “They won’t play in the opening game [November 7 against Stony Brook].”

Davis’ broken hand is less severe than Luis’ as the Iona transfer has a small brace that encompassed his right hand but was still dribbling a basketball with his left hand during the Red Storm’s practice on Tuesday. Luis has a full cast on his right arm that nearly went to the middle of his forearm.

St. John’s basketball hoping to get healthy quickly

Cruz Davis is one of three players to follow Pitino to St. John’s from Iona this offseason after averaging 6.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game as a freshman with the Gaels.

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He shot 41.9-percent from the floor and 31.7-percent from 3-point range as his role is projecting to be a reserve guard for the Johnnies this season.

St. John’s has six games scheduled in the month of November before December begins with the first true road game of the season against West Virginia in the Big East vs. Big 12 Battle.