St. John’s will turn to transfers to avoid another March Madness snub

College Basketball

By Zach Braziller

The mission: Don’t give the selection committee a chance to snub you next year.

For that to happen, Rick Pitino and St. John’s need to have a big offseason and bring in difference-makers to fortify a young returning core.

It began in earnest on Monday, hours after the Johnnies missed the NCAA Tournament.

They will lose several key contributors, most notably star point guard Daniss Jenkins, center Joel Soriano, power forward Chris Ledlum and shooting guard Jordan Dingle.

Reserves Nahiem Alleyne and Sean Conway are also out of eligibility.

The plan, according to sources, is to add four transfers. At the top of the list is a rim-protecting big man, physical power forward with size and multiple scoring guards.

This is where Matt Abdelmassih, hired as the program’s general manager last July, a new position several schools now utilize in the transfer-portal era, will be so important. An assistant coach previously at St. John’s, Iowa State and Nebraska, he is highly regarded for his work with transfers.

It’s clearly an easier task than last spring, when Pitino completely turned over the roster, keeping only Soriano and Drissa Traore.

It was a challenge getting everyone on the same page, and St. John’s really didn’t hit its stride until the last few weeks of the season.

By then, it was too late. Having a base of returning players will certainly be a step in the right direction.

Pitino went through exit meetings with players on Monday.

There is confidence that sophomore Zuby Ejiofor and freshmen Brady Dunlap and Simeon Wilcher will return, according to sources.

All three showed flashes of potential throughout the season, and Wilcher, a top-40 prospect from Roselle Catholic (N.J.), in particular began to play well late in the year.

RJ Luis and Glenn Taylor Jr. are not quite as certain, but for now neither has plans to enter the portal.

Luis may have the biggest upside of anyone on the roster, as a 6-foot-7 wing who averaged 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds this season as a part-time starter.

He was at his best late in the year, producing 18 points and nine rebounds in the Big East Tournament quarterfinal victory over Seton Hall.

Luis was also inconsistent, which was perhaps connected to his inability to practice often due to nagging shin splints.

St. John’s has signed three freshmen for next year: Four-star wing Jaiden Glover, four-star center Khaman Maker and Greek guard Lefteris Liotopoulos.

Glover, ranked 57th in his class by 247Sports, is considered the most ready to contribute right away, especially on the defensive end.

The Johnnies expressed interest in high-scoring Hofstra wing Darlinstone Dubar, one of the biggest names to enter the portal, on Monday.

The 6-8 Dubar averaged 17.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range for the Pride.

Dubar had 23 points against St. John’s in a non-conference game on Dec. 30.

He fits the mold of the kind of player Pitino wants to add: Athletic and long.

St. John’s too often struggled defending the ball this year.

The Hall of Fame coach had said several times during the season that next year’s team would be bigger and more athletic.

Another name to monitor is Bensley Joseph of Miami (Fla.). The 6-2 sophomore guard notched 9.6 points, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals for the disappointing Hurricanes. He entered the portal Monday afternoon and is being targeted, sources said.

There figures to be plenty of movement in the days and weeks to come. St. John’s season may have ended Sunday night, but the work for Pitino and Co. to avoid a similar fate next year is beginning anew.