One of many prime gamers within the NCAA switch portal is headed to St. John’s.
The Purple Storm are including Windfall ahead Bryce Hopkins, head coach Rick Pitino introduced Monday, in a significant coup for the reigning Massive East champions.
“We are so excited to have Bryce Hopkins [as] part of our family,” Pitino wrote on social media. “He epitomizes everything I love in a basketball player: Passionate, Hungry, and Driven. Can’t wait to work with him! Will become a great one for St John’s.”
Hopkins, who is ready to be a fifth-year senior, has averaged at the least 15.5 factors per sport in every of the final three seasons at Windfall, although accidents have largely derailed the previous two.
The 6-7 scorer suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in January of 2024 and didn’t return till December.
He appeared in solely three video games through the 2024-25 marketing campaign earlier than he sustained a bone bruise in that very same knee, and he was later dominated out for the season.
When wholesome, Hopkins is a difference-maker. After spending his freshman season at Kentucky, Hopkins broke out as a sophomore at Windfall en path to a spot on the 2022-23 All-Massive East first crew.
He averaged at the least 7.7 rebounds in every of the previous three seasons.
Hopkins turns into the second vital switch added by Pitino this offseason. On Monday, St. John’s introduced the signing of Joson Sanon, a 6-5 guard who averaged 11.9 factors per sport and shot 36.9% on 3-point makes an attempt as a freshman at Arizona State final season.
These two be part of a roster already headlined by energy ahead Zuby Ejiofor, who was an All-Massive East first-team choice and the convention’s Most Improved Participant after averaging 14.7 factors and eight.1 rebounds per sport throughout a breakout junior season.
Hopkins and Sanon assist bolster a crew that’s shedding senior guards Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott and Deivon Smith, and whose main scorer, guard RJ Luis Jr., is declaring for the NBA Draft and getting into the switch portal.
On Monday, sharp-shooting ahead Brady Dunlap entered the switch portal as properly.
The addition of Hopkins marks the second yr in a row that Pitino snagged a star participant from a convention rival. Final offseason, Richmond transferred to St. John’s from Seton Corridor.
Richmond helped lead St. John’s to a 31-5 report, its first outright Massive East regular-season championship since 1985; its first Massive East Match title since 2000; and a No. 2 seed within the NCAA Match.
With Hopkins within the combine, the expectations going into 2025-26 will likely be equally lofty.
