St. John's basketball transfer withdraws from NBA Draft to play for Rick Pitino

The Red Storm will have its electric guard in the backcourt next season
Feb 26, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; St. John's basketball transfer guard Joson Sanon (3) shoots over Brigham Young Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) during the second half at Desert Financial Arena.
Feb 26, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; St. John's basketball transfer guard Joson Sanon (3) shoots over Brigham Young Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) during the second half at Desert Financial Arena. | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The St. John’s basketball team will officially get its first offseason commitment in a Red Storm uniform this fall after Arizona State transfer Joson Sanon has withdrawn from the NBA Draft.

Sanon made the move on Tuesday morning, one day before the deadline for players to remove their name from the NBA Draft in order to maintain NCAA eligibility.

The 6-foot-5 guard announced his intentions to enter the NBA Draft late in the process, hours before the deadline on April 26 but remained fully committed to playing for St. John’s next season.

He declined an invitation to the NBA G-League Combine, with a select number of players then getting invited to the NBA Draft Combine, but did participate in individual workouts with NBA teams.

Joson Sanon entered college with the potential to be a one-and-done, listed as 5-star prospect and the No. 25 recruit in the Class of 2024, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

He averaged 11.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists during his freshman season with the Sun Devils while shooting 42.2-percent from the field and 36.9-percent from 3-point range.

Shortly after entering the transfer portal, the Rhode Island native committed to St. John’s and was the first player to join the Red Storm’s massive portal haul this offseason.

Sanon figures to play a major role for the Johnnies next season and could contend for a starting role on opening night with the expectations of potentially being in the 2026 NBA Draft.

St. John’s star RJ Luis currently remains in the NBA Draft ahead of the May 28 deadline. Luis has not given any indications that he plans to withdraw from the draft despite not being on many mock drafts.

Should Luis decided to return to college he would be the most sought after player in the transfer portal.