St. John's basketball to host 3-time Defensive Player of Year in search for next big

The hunt to replace center, and captain, Joel Soriano is officially on for the St. John's basketball team.

The Johnnies have already expressed its interest in Rutgers star center Cliff Omoruyi, but the program had also monitored the status of Drexel transfer Amari Williams, who is another defensive standout.

Williams, a 3-time Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game during his senior season.

His numbers took a bit of a dip this season after posting 13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game last year, all of which were career-highs.

The 6-foot-10 graduate transfer will visit St. John's this week, according to On3, along with Creighton, Indiana, and Florida. The date of the visit has not yet been confirmed but it will be after the NCAA dead period ends on Thursday, April 11 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Williams is listed as the No. 26 player in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

St. John's has already hosted Miami guard Bensely Joseph on a visit in late March, the only on-campus visit so far this offseason for a transfer player. Joseph, a New England native, is currently on a visit to Providence.

The philosophy is clear from Rick Pitino; Get a defensive minded center to start on opening night, something that Soriano struggled with this season.

The Red Storm will enter 7-foot freshman Khaman Maker this season and return back-up center Zuby Ejiofor, but it's unlikely that Maker will receive many important minutes next season and Pitino has already said that his plan would be to turn Ejiofor into a power forward this offseason instead of keeping him at center.

Cliff Omoruyi is also expected to visit St. John's following the NCAA recruiting dead period.