The St. John’s basketball coaching staff and front office were due for changes this summer, but Rick Pitino didn’t have to go far to find a new general manager.
The Red Storm are elevating associate head coach Steve Masiello to general manager, replacing the departing Tom Ostrom. However, Masiello will still remain in his coaching role on the bench next to Pitino.
St. John’s has been in the market for a new general manager since the firing of Matt Abdelmassih in January. The program eventually brought in Ostrom to replace Abdelmassih on an interim basis with Rick Pitino saying the job was his if he wanted it but opted not to take the position full time.
Masiello, who had a major role in the Red Storm’s recruiting, was the choice to fill the void.
The Johnnies put together a very internationally heavy roster this offseason, headlined by British point guard Quinn Ellis and Senegalese forward Babacar Sane but Ostrom was able to help St. John’s pull Baylor guard Tounde Yessoufou out of the NBA Draft and commit to Queens.
St. John’s also landed prized transfer Donnie Freeman from Syracuse but the versatile forward ruptured his Achillies during a non-contact drill late in June and has been ruled out for the season.
However, the Red Storm might not be done with its roster building and Steve Masiello, along with Rick Pitino, could be pressed into more action this summer given the recent court filings that would allow seniors who gradated this spring another year of eligibility.
St. John’s, behind billionaire booster Mike Repole, was able to put together a roster that rivals to some of the most expensive in college basketball and now it’ll be the responsibility of Masiello to try and navigate the building of the team’s roster going forward.
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