The major headline surrounding the St. John’s basketball team this offseason has been its highly regarded transfer portal haul combined with the return of All-Big East center Zuby Ejiofor.
The projected firepower has landed the Johnnies in the Top 10 of nearly every preseason poll entering the season, but its biggest star of the summer has been a freshman that was never a guarantee to play for the Red Storm if not for some good fortune.
Kelvin Odih, a 4-star prospect from Rhode Island, landed with St. John’s in the spring after decommitting from West Virginia following its coaching change. Entering college, he was thought to be a very good depth piece for the Johnnies, but the bulk of his playing time would come later in his career after he had been able to learn the intricacies of Rick Pitino’s system.
However, plans can change and Odih is carving out a role for himself entering his rookie year.
“Kelvin’s been the best player in camp all sumer,” Rick Pitino said on Tuesday after St. John’s open practice. “The other day he did something I haven’t seen – he had 17 deflections in a practice – which is unheard of.”
Odih had multiple stretches in the 40-minute scrimmage where was the best player on the floor and finished with 15 points, but his day was cut short after an apparent ankle injury in the second half forced him to the sidelines where he was seen with ice on his ankle before leaving the court in a walking boot on crutches.
“Kelvin Odih’s had the best motor of the summer. Totally unexpected…it blows everybody away,” Pitino added.
“He’s relentless, unguardable, improved his jump shot. But that’s so unusual for a freshman. I haven’t seen it. So, it’s been exciting.”
His value was extremely noticeable. He is aggressive and intense on the defensive end of the floor, which is his most valuable asset at this point in his career, and fearless on the offensive end while driving to the basket and willing to take the open shot.
“Kelvin’s going to play a lot because he’s one of the best players on the team.”
Odih has been so impressive in St. John’s summer workouts that he was grouped with the ‘starters’ during the scrimmage, joining Oziyah Sellers, Bryce Hopkins, Dillon Mitchell, and Zuby Ejiofor.
It’s a group that would likely be starting – assuming health – if the Red Storm had a regular season game this week, but Pitino mentioned that his starters will change a lot between now and November.
It’s very difficult to crack the rotation as a freshman for Rick Pitino but Kelvin Odih appears to be on the right path to earn playing time early in his career.