By ADAM ZAGORIA
Transferring Kansas big man Zuby Ejiofor has landed at St. John’s, giving Rick Pitino the power forward he needed.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound native of Garland, Texas chose the Johnnies after visiting over the weekend. He also visited Villanova and considered TCU and San Diego State.
“I heard everything they had to say and I felt the love from the entire staff and just how beautiful the campus was and how I saw myself developing,” Ejiofor said in a phone interview.
Zuby Ejiofor prediction: @StJohnsBBall https://t.co/wIjAA8GAiO
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 15, 2023
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He added: “We visited Villanova and we enjoyed our time there. We thought it was a great campus, we thought it was a good foot as far as basketball-wise, but when we went to St. John’s, everything fell right in place as far as the coaching staff. And coach Rick Pitino and the legacy he’s left on the game as well.”
Said Pitino: “Zuby is a quality athlete, basketball player and person. He is an outstanding defensive player who is really going to bolster our front court.”
Ejiofor averaged 1.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 25 games last season for the Jayhawks, but was known as a worker with athleticism and a good motor. He probably would’ve been in the rotation by his junior year, but there is often uncertainty at Kansas about being over-recruited.
“Beforehand the [St. John’s staff] believed I was a five, but I could turn into a four,” he said. “They said they would improve my shot and develop me and handling the ball around the perimeter.
“Rick Pitino said I was a true forward and he would love to coach me…This morning I ended up telling Coach Pitino that I was going to be on the team next year and they were excited and so was I and that’s how it is.”
Under Pitino he’ll have the opportunity to develop and play more. He initially chose the Jayhawks over Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and TCU.
Just an incredible job by our staff in recruiting 11 quality athletes with great potential. A culture is formed with selfless people that have a strong thirst for winning. So excited to work with these 13 talented men
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— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) May 15, 2023
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Ejiofor is the 10th transfer addition for Pitino.
“I think the team can be really good,” he said. “It was a total team rebuild as I’ve heard from Coach Pitino. He’s got 10 new guys on the team and these are guys that are fifth-year seniors, guys with experience and stuff like that so it’s not a young team.
“Me myself I’m a sophomore and there’s only one other sophomore, so this team is filled with people that’s been there and know what it takes to play at this level and I think we’re going to be a team that’s going to be really good in the Big East.”
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