Drissa Traore enters transfer portal, second St. John's basketball player to depart
The forward will have two years of eligibility remaining in his college career
The second St. John's basketball player has entered the transfer portal on Friday afternoon and it was fan-favorite Drissa Traore.
Traore, the only other holdover from Mike Anderson's roster next to Joel Soriano, was a beloved around the program for his positive energy and hustle. It's one of the reasons why Rick Pitino wanted to retain him for this season and help change the culture within the Red Storm.
The 6-foot-8 product of Long Island Lutheran (NY) played in 28 games this season for the Johnnies, averaging 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds per contest, shooting 46.3-percent (19-of-41) from the field and 40.0-percent (6-of-15) from 3-point range.
Traore has the size, and game, to shine at a quality mid-major school. He was a 3-star prospect coming out of high school.
He was seldom used during his freshman season under Anderson, playing in just 14 games, and scoring just nine total points on 10 shot attempts. He showed tremendous improvement in a year with Pitino, something not many people expected from the sophomore.
Drissa Traore becomes the second St. John's player to enter the transfer portal this offseason, joining Cruz Davis, who jumped into the portal earlier this week after the Red Storm were snubbed from the NCAA Tournament.
St. John's also has to replace six seniors who have run out of eligibility this offseason.
Three spots will be filled by the incoming freshmen class of 4-star signees Jaiden Glover and Khaman Maker, as well as international Greek prospect Lefteris Liotopoulos.
The Red Storm are very interested by Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi, who entered the portal this week. Omoruyi was high school teammates with St. John's guard Simeon Wilcher and would fill a massive hole in the roster.
Hofstra's Darlinstone Dubar and Miami's Bensely Joseph are two other players in the portal that have also been linked to the Johnnies.