Joson Sanon was an afterthought at times for the St. John’s basketball team.
Rick Pitino and his teammates would give glowing reviews about his natural ability and what he was able to do in practice, but it rarely translated to the game.
As a sophomore, it took him time to adjust to the demanding coaching style of Pitino.
But the softspoken Arizona State transfer kept working. First, it was his willingness to rebound. Then, it was his ability to defend. Now, it’s putting everything together at the right time for the Johnnies to roll through the postseason.
In the Big East Tournament semifinals against Seton Hall, he went for 15 points – hitting three 3-pointers in the first half – and adding three rebounds and two steals. It was his fourth straight productive game after a 15-point outing that sparked a second half rally against Georgetown in the penultimate game of the regular season.
After that performance it sounded like he called his shot “cold blooded” but he clarified on Friday night.
“I meant to say coke butter cheese,” Sanon stated as everyone in the room looked confused and laughed, including his head coach.
Apparently, it’s the new age version of saying ‘KOBE!’ when shooting a basketball. It was derived from a video game streamer. Regardless of what Joson Sanon want to call his shot, as long as it’s going in St. John’s will take it.
“I've said it all along, Joson's physically the most talented ball player on the team,” Pitino added. “He's only going to grow. He made a big-time play down the stretch defensively and he's grown as a defensive player, and that's exciting because he's so much better defensively, he's so much better doing other things, but he is a cold-blooded shooter. I got great confidence in him.”
“Coke butter,” Sanon interjected.
“Cold butter. Excuse me. Okay. Cold butter. I'm learning. I'm learning,” Pitino laughed.
But the growing sense is that Joson Sanon will be returning to St. John’s for his junior season and the sky is the limit for his potential with another summer working with the Hall of Famer.
“In the country,” Dillon Mitchell responded when asked if Sanon could be one of the best players in the Big East next season if he runs it back with the Red Storm.
“I think he’s turned into one of best defenders, especially on the ball…really it came down to will and he has that will to want to guard. He knows [Pitino] will keep him on the court to make his shots because he’s super skilled offensively.”
With 1:21 left against the Pirates and the Johnnies trying to close out an eight-point lead, Sanon was able to get his hand on the ball from a dribbling Budd Clark through the lane that resulted in a steal and eventually icing the game.
It was a play that he wouldn’t have made weeks ago, nevertheless months ago, and shows his growth within the system.
For Joson Sanon, he knows what Rick Pitino has done for him already and what he could continue to do for him.
“I feel like I could go first round [in the NBA Draft] next year,” he said when asked about what he could accomplish with another season in Queens.
In the last four games, he is averaging 11.0 points per game on 38.4-percent (10-for-26) shooting from 3-point range as St. John’s hopes he can continue it on Saturday in the Big East Championship as well as in next week’s NCAA Tournament.