31. UCLA Bruins
32. Oregon Ducks
34. Florida Gators
35. Ole Miss
36. USC Trojans
39. Mississippi State Bulldogs
41. Memphis Tigers
42. McNeese Cowboys
45. VCU Rams
46. Dayton Flyers
47. St Mary’s Gaels
49. UCF Knights
52. Clemson Tigers
53. New Mexico Lobos
58. SMU Mustangs
60. Nevada Wolfpack
61. TCU Horned Frogs
63. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
65. Syracuse Orange
68. Iowa Hawkeyes
70. Butler Bulldogs
71. Princeton Tigers
74. Oklahoma Sooners
75. West Virginia Mountaineers
76. Georgia Bulldogs
77. UAB Blazers
80. Missouri Tigers
Welcome back to another edition of our 82 in 72 countdown, We are now into our top 30 and we hope you enjoyed our previous previews on former Pac 12 schools Oregon and UCLA. As we break into the top 30 of our college basketball preseason rankings, we head to New York and take a look at the Johnnies and year two under Rick Pitino!
| Steven | Maxwell | Kam | Cody |
| 24 | 16 | 43 | 36 |
The Johnnies are another team that our crew at The Center Hub are divided on, as you can see from above Steven and I are much higher on the Red Storm than Kam or Cody…The main reason for this is the turned-over roster that Rick Pitino brings into year two, a roster that many nationally are also split on…but Pitino has more Final Four appearances than sub-20-win seasons since the turn of the century and Pitino has certainly done more with less in his previous coaching stops. I am quite fond of the Johnnies roster this season and I think they have a very legitimate shot to contend for the Big East crown this season, and my belief is initially rooted not only with coach Pitino, but with the backcourt of Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith!
Both Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith are All-Big East level players, and both are fifth year players with significant playing time under their belts. Richmond was a first team All-Big East selection last season at Seton Hall and was one of the most physically imposing guards in the country. Per Cerebro Sports, Richmond was the ONLY player last season in all of division one college basketball to post a C-RAM of 9.7 while posting a minimum five-factor line of 67PSP(pure scoring prowess)-513PE(3 point efficiency)-76FGS(floor general skills)-89DSI(defensive statistical impact)-67ATR(around the rim). Richmond’s skill set is unique as a larger guard and his two-way impact will be much welcomed alongside Deivon Smith, who comes to St. John’s from Utah after previous stops at Georgia Tech and Mississippi State. Per Cerebro Sports, Deivon Smith was the ONLY player last season in all of division one college basketball to post a C-RAM of 9+ while posting a minimum five-factor line of 66PSP(pure scoring prowess)-693PE(3 point efficiency)-84FGS(floor general skills)-73DSI(defensive statistical impact)-65ATR(around the rim). Both Richmond and Smith are advanced stats warriors, and players who have paved their own path in that world, and when you add the versatile playmaking and shot creation of Deivon Smith with Kadary Richmond, the possibilities of the returns from those two are tantalizing…
The sole returner who is set to start this year for coach Pitino is RJ Luis Jr, who is expected to slide into the traditional three man role for the Johnnies. Luis started in ten games last season for St. John’s and could be in store for a third year jump after finding a home with the Johnnies last season(previously spent one season at UMass). Luis is an underrated rebounder and is effective at creating turnovers on the defensive end. Like Luis, North Texas transfer Aaron Scott should also be creating turnovers for the Johnnies in his first season in the Big East and fourth in college hoops. Scott posted 83 combined steals and blocks last season at North Texas and has over 75 career starts in the AAC, likely putting Scott as the other starting forward this season alongside RJ Luis Jr.
The wildcard this season for St. John’s may end up being their best player…that would be Ruben Prey, a freshman international draft prospect from Lisbon, who has been turning heads in the NBA draft community for some time now. Prey is a really fun watch and is a gifted connector and scorer on the offensive end. Prey might have early struggles holding up defensively in the Big East, but his plus length and plus energy on that end will more than keep his head above water. If Prey does end up solidifying himself early, turn your attention to freshman Jaiden Glover being the wildcard for the Johnnies this season…Glover is a skilled wing who could have the NBA in his future…
Outside of Prey down low, the Johnnies also return Zuby Ejiofor and bring in USC transfer Vince Iwuchukwu, both of whom will see minutes this season up front for Rick Pitino. Keep an eye out for Khaman Maker as well, the 7’ 1 freshman big will also be on the hunt for minutes as the year progresses…
I really enjoy this St. John’s roster and Rick Pitino did a great job reloading almost an entirely new roster from last season, but returners Sadiku Ibine Ayo, Brady Dunlap and Simeon Wilcher will also be poised to make a more consistent impact on the Johnie’s rotation in 2024-2025.
Rick Pitino loves rosters with unique-talent and depth, and this St. John’s squad fits that bill much better than the 2023-2024 squad. This Johnnies roster has an elite college backcourt and a frontcourt that has layers of depth and skill to roll out on the Big East. In what is expected to be a weakened Big East, I really love this St. John’s team this year and think they are in prime position to contend for the Big East crown this season…
The Center Hub 
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