It’s been a busy couple of days for St. John’s.
Rick Pitino continued including to his roster with Tuesday’s dedication of Imran Suljanovic, a 6-8 wing from Austria who grew to become the primary freshman to affix the Crimson Storm this offseason.
“Was watching Imran on film and had to see him in person,” Pitino wrote on social media.
“Traveled outside Bologna where he impressed me more with his overall game than what I watched on film. Shoots, passes, handles, and is extremely agile. Great potential!!! Very excited to have him join the Johnnies.”
Suljanovic, who turns 19 this week, performs for Pallacanestro Reggiana in Northern Italy.
He averaged 22.4 factors, 5.6 rebounds and a pair of.1 assists per recreation over seven appearances for Austria finally summer season’s worldwide FIBA U18 EuroBasket competitors, the place he shot 39% on 3-point makes an attempt.
Suljanovic joins a St. John’s roster that beforehand added transfers Joson Sanon from Arizona State; Bryce Hopkins from Windfall; Oziyah Sellers from Stanford; and Ian Jackson from North Carolina.
Jackson, a former five-star prospect from the Bronx, introduced his transfer to St. John’s on Monday.
The additions of Sanon, Sellers, Jackson and now Suljanovic ought to elevate a Crimson Storm offense that ranked 339th amongst Division I faculties in 3-point share (30.1%) final season.
The 5 additions come amid an offseason during which St. John’s needed to change outgoing seniors Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith and Aaron Scott, in addition to RJ Luis Jr. — the reigning Large East Participant of the Yr — who declared for the NBA Draft and entered the NCAA switch portal.
Different Crimson Storm gamers to enter the switch portal embody combo guard Simeon Wilcher and sharp-shooting ahead Brady Dunlap.
Suljanovic is the newest worldwide recruit added by Pitino. The Crimson Storm already rostered Lefteris Liotopoulos from Greece and Ruben Prey from Portugal, who will each be sophomores subsequent season.
