The St. John’s basketball team has advanced deeper in the season in each of the first three years under Rick Pitino and now the Johnnies are trying to follow up its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999.
A major part of its achievements has been the utilization of the transfer portal, landing players like Zuby Ejiofor, RJ Luis, Kadary Richmond, Bryce Hopkins, Dillon Mitchell, and others.
It’s been a recipe for success for the Red Storm, and they will not only look to replicate its portal accomplishments but surpass it in the next few weeks.
There have been nearly 2,000 transfer portal entries since it officially opened on Tuesday morning and a handful of players are being targeted by the Johnnies to try and follow up its back-to-back dual Big East championships.
Here are some of the players at the top of St. John’s portal wish list:
Flory Bidunga, Kansas C
Considered one of the best players to enter the portal, Flory Bidunga will have a long list of suitors and demand a healthy NIL check. He would be an ideal replacement for Zuby Ejiofor after winning the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and being an anchor for the Jayhawks this season.
His combination of size and skill would thrive in Rick Pitino’s system.
KJ Lewis, Georgetown G
KJ Lewis has a skill that was severely lacking in the Red Storm backcourt last season – strength.
Lewis began his career with two seasons at Arizona before transferring to Georgetown last offseason. For a guard, he’s a terrific rebounder at 5.1 per game, something that the St. John’s head coach stressed after the season needed to improve with his team.
As a shooter, his numbers progressed from last year to this season but still sat at 30.5-percent. Listed at 6-foot-4 and given the backcourt question marks for the Johnnies, KJ Lewis could be the answer to a lot of the questions that hurt St. John’s in its season ending loss to Duke.
Najai Hines, Seton Hall C
Nothing will standout about Najai Hines if you look at a sheet of his stats this season, but it was the potential he showed in his freshman year at Seton Hall that was the most impressive.
The 6-foot-10 center averaged 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game while coming off the bench and playing 18.0 minutes per contest.
St. John’s will be taking its shot with high profile centers this season, and the emergence of Ruben Prey could limit its ability to take more than one highly sought after post player, but Hines will command a lot of attention in the portal, and his youth makes him even more of an intriguing player.
Abdi Bashir, Kansas State F
St. John’s is looking for consistent shooting and there might be no better shooter in the transfer portal than Kansas State wing Abdi Bashir, who connected on 44.4-percent of his attempts from the outside in just 18 games this season.
Bashir started his career at Monmouth before jumping in the portal last offseason to join the Wildcats. He was limited on the court due to an injury but could be an ideal fit for the Johnnies given his size – listed at 6-foot-7 – and shooting capabilities. Â
Consistently making outside shots has been a struggle since Rick Pitino got to the program after each of its backcourt additions last season shot worse from 3-point range with the Red Storm than at their previous schools.
St. John’s must replace Oziyah Sellers’ production in the backcourt and Bashir would be a perfect it.
Aiden Sherrell, Alabama F
A name that has been linked to St. John’s for a while, Aiden Sherrell took a major leap in his second season with Alabama and averaged 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He flashed the ability to hit 3-pointers, making 27-of-80, but it’s his size that greatly attracts the Red Storm.
St. John’s wants a high-level rim protector, and Sherrell could deliver for the Johnnies.
Moustapha Thaim, Cincinnati C
Moustapha Thaim is as intriguing of a prospect that has entered the portal so far. The 7-foot-2 center from Cincinnati flashed on everybody’s radar following a 28-point performance in an upset win over Kansas this season and carried that momentum into the rest of the season.
On his second school in two years after beginning his career at UCF, Thaim averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game this season.
His size and length around the basket are something every coach dreams about and it’s something that has been very intriguing for Rick Pitino.
Massamba Diop, Arizona State C
Another name that has been connected to St. John’s is Arizona State blossoming center Massamba Diop.
Diop’s potential is off the charts with some experts thinking he could be a first-round pick in the NBA Draft as soon as next summer. He averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his first season with the Sun Devils and a very sought after prospect.
Listed at 7-foot-1, he’s everything Pitino wants in a center and could be an ideal piece in the Red Storm’s arsenal.