Zuby Ejiofor’s breakout season was one of many driving forces as St. John’s surged to its first outright Huge East championship in 40 years.
And the convention took discover.
On Monday, the Huge East named Ejiofor its Most Improved Participant for 2024-25, recognizing a season through which the 6-9 junior ahead thrived in his first alternative as a full-time starter.
Ejiofor ranked second on St. John’s by averaging 14.1 factors per sport on 57.3% capturing within the common season. His 8.2 rebounds per sport led the Pink Storm and ranked third within the convention. His 4.3 offensive rebounds per sport led Division I.
His buzzer beater within the Pink Storm’s 86-84 win in extra time at Marquette on Saturday capped a 27-4 common season for St. John’s, throughout which it went 18-2 in Huge East Play.
Ejiofor began 30 of 31 video games and averaged 31.6 minutes per contest.
That’s after a 2022-23 freshman season at Kansas through which Ejiofor didn’t begin any of his 25 appearances; and a 2023-24 sophomore marketing campaign with St. John’s through which he began solely one in all 33 video games.
Final season, Ejiofor averaged 4.3 factors and three.1 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per sport. He was blocked for enjoying time by middle Joel Soriano, who has since graduated.
“This is a monster of a league, so to see the progress that not only I, myself, have had individually, but the whole team from year one to year two under Coach [Rick] Pitino is something that’s indescribable,” Ejiofor mentioned on March 1 after St. John’s clinched the outright Huge East crown with a win over Seton Corridor.
Ejiofor was beforehand named to the All-Huge East first group, together with Pink Storm guard RJ Luis Jr. Each are finalists for Huge East Participant of the Yr, which will probably be introduced Wednesday.
“They’ve been stars all year, the two of them,” Pitino mentioned on March 1 of Ejiofor and Luis. “They don’t have up-and-down games, because Zuby may not shoot the ball well but he’ll have 10 or 11 rebounds. I’m proud of those two guys.”
St. John’s guard Kadary Richmond was named to the All-Huge East second group.
On Monday, the Huge East introduced Creighton middle Ryan Kalkbrenner as its Defensive Participant of the Yr for a fourth time; and UConn middle Tarris Reed Jr. as its Sixth Man.
The convention additionally acknowledged Xavier ahead Jerome Hunter with its Sportsmanship Award.
The Huge East Match kicks off Wednesday at Madison Sq. Backyard, although top-seeded St. John’s has a first-round bye. The Pink Storm are set to play Thursday afternoon towards the winner of Windfall vs. Butler.
