St. John’s basketball players were upset that its three superstars, Zuby Ejiofor, Kadary Richmond, and RJ Luis, were not all on the All-Big East First Team.
While Luis, the Big East Player of the Year, and Ejiofor landed on the First Team, Richmond sat on the All-Big East Second Team.
Richmond told Storm The Paint earlier in the week that he had “two more games to show everybody they were wrong” and he certainly did as he landed on the All-Big East Tournament Team next to Ejiofor while Luis was the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
“This has by far been the most emotional, happiest week of my 22 years of existence, so this is great,” Luis said after the Red Storm won its first Big East Tournament since 2000 with an 82-66 victory over Creighton.
“Crazy how much you can speak things into existence and just watch it all come together.”
Luis’ 29 points were the most in a Big East Tournament Championship since Jalen Brunson scored 31 points in 2018 and the most any St. John’s player has scored in the title game.
“You can’t keep counting one of us out,” Richmond said about all three St. John’s players getting the recognition it deserves. “
Richmond went for 12 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists on 6-of-10 shooting and flirted with a triple-double in each game for the Red Storm in the tournament.
“Kadary is about as much fun to coach as any coach would have because he takes coaching really well, and he owns up to every mistake he makes,” Rick Pitino explained.
Ejiofor, however, had his national coming out party this weekend after following up his 33-point outing in the semifinals against Marquette with 20 points against the Bluejays. It was more impressive considering he was not at his best in the quarterfinal against Butler with only four points.
Now, the St. John’s trio will have the chance to shine in the NCAA Tournament and continue the magical season for the Johnnies.