The St. John’s basketball program will begin its offseason workouts on June 16 but one of its freshmen will not be in attendance due to new visa rules that have been enacted by the United States government.
Austrian prospect Imran Suljanovic committed to the Red Storm in late April and when his team comes together for the first time, he will not be present due to circumstances beyond his control.
“The international guys have visa problems because Donald Trump has put them on hold, getting visas,” Rick Pitino said on the field at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night prior to throwing the ceremonial first pitch.
“Imran’s got some problems getting in [to the United States], but hopefully we will get him in,” he added.
The United States recently halted all new student visa applications and interviews as there are plans to implement a new policy that would require all students to have their social media reviewed before getting approved to attend their new school.
Pitino traveled to Italy to watch the 6-foot-8 forward shortly after the Red Storm’s season concluded this spring. He averaged 22.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B Tournament and was the second leading scorer in the event.
He is one of just two incoming freshmen slated to join the Johnnies this offseason.
Sophomore Lefteris Liotopoulos will also not attend St. John’s workouts but it’s due to his commitments to play for the Greece U20 national team this summer.
Liotopoulos and Ruben Prey, who will be in Queens next week for workouts, are not currently impacted by the visa issues international students are having after securing their documentation last spring before new administration took over in the United States.
Rick Pitino added that everyone else on the roster is expected to be in attendance on June 16 for its first offseason workout.