St. John’s Basketball Lands Key Transfer as Portal Action Heats Up

NEW YORK, NY — St. John's University continues its recruitment efforts in the college basketball transfer portal, successfully adding Providence forward Bryce Hopkins to its roster for the 2025-26 season. This commitment, announced just five days after Hopkins entered the portal, strengthens the Red Storm’s lineup as they absorb the loss of Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis, who is expected to depart the program.

Rick Pitino, head coach of St. John’s, expressed enthusiasm over the acquisition of Hopkins, a versatile forward who averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds during his time at Providence. “Bryce is a talented player with the ability to impact the game on both ends,” Pitino said. “We believe he will fit perfectly into our system.”

Hopkins gained All-Big East honors during his sophomore season in 2022-23; however, the Chicago native has faced challenges with injuries, limiting him to just three games this past season due to a knee issue. The Red Storm hope that Hopkins can regain his full form, which could help offset the absence of Luis, who has entered the NBA Draft process.

The Red Storm’s roster now has ten scholarship players with the addition of Hopkins. Meanwhile, guard Brady Dunlap has joined the transfer portal, indicating ongoing changes as the team looks to finalize its lineup before the upcoming season.

St. John’s is also monitoring other potential transfers, including Providence star and All-Big East selection, who has expressed interest after visiting New York this weekend. These additions could bolster a frontcourt that includes Hopkins and Zuby Ejiofor, creating a formidable lineup within the Big East.

The transfer portal has experienced a significant surge this season, with nearly half of the entries already surpassing the total from the previous year. Over 1,100 players entered the portal in the initial days after it opened, as college basketball programs aggressively seek to build competitive squads.

As teams strategize for next season amidst the NCAA Tournament climaxes, the urgency for roster improvement continues to grow. St. John’s aims to attract more talent during this 30-day transfer window, closing April 22.

In recent history, players entering the transfer portal have increasingly shaped the competitive landscape in college basketball, leading to greater emphasis on recruiting from this pool rather than relying solely on high school talent. With the stakes higher than ever, teams like St. John’s will remain active participants in this evolving recruitment landscape.