Quinn Ellis Stuffs Stat Sheet in St. John’s Basketball Marathon Exhibition

The St. John’s Red Storm looked great in their first preseason game of the year against the Drexel Dragons at Carnesecca Arena, winning 81-52.

Despite the lopsided score, head coach Rick Pitino had a lot that he wanted to see his team improve in their second preseason game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. A bigger, more physical team, Pitino focused on the rebounding effort of his squad.

Drexel outrebounded them 43-42, and he knew tougher days lay ahead. Rutgers certainly lived up to the billing in what was a marathon game, going four overtimes. The Red Storm eventually came away with a 104-99 victory, with one of their standout performers being Quinn Ellis.

It is still early, but the high-priced international import certainly has looked the part thus far. Reportedly set to make at least $4 million in NIL payments, Ellis looks to be worth every penny with how he has performed on the court.

Quinn Ellis shines in exhibition against Rutgers

4 overtimes later... JOHNNIES WIN ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/5rmu2iailo
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) October 18, 2026

Against the Scarlet Knights, he barely came off the court. Playing heavy minutes in an exhibition is certainly far from ideal, but the talented point guard was up to the task. He was on the court for 56 out of 60 minutes, highlighting just how important he is going to be to the team’s game plan.

In those 56 minutes, Ellis showcased the two-way impact that he can have on the court. He was more involved offensively from a shooting perspective, looking much more aggressive than he did against Drexel.

Ellis went 4-for-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from the foul line. While he would have liked to see more efficiency, it was nice to see him hunt his shots a little more. But scoring will always be secondary to the other parts of his game given the talent that surrounds him.

His playmaking was elite, handing out nine assists. He has shown a willingness and ability to crash the glass in his career, putting his 6-foot-5 frame to good use. It was more of the same against the Scarlet Knights, with Ellis pulling down eight rebounds.

St. John’s outlasts Rutgers in an exhibition at MSG, 104-99.

This one went to QUADRUPLE OT. What’s your biggest takeaway? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/141yadw0JZ
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) October 18, 2026

Easily the most impressive part of the game for Ellis was that he turned the ball over only once. A point guard having the ball in his hands as much as he does, along with the fatigue that comes with playing 56 minutes, it was remarkable that he turned the ball over a single time.

That should provide a ton of optimism moving forward. Ellis looks to have a firm grasp on the offensive scheme already, and things should only get better with the more reps and chemistry the team builds on the court.

He has a chance to be one of the best point guards in the country with his ability to make an impact on both ends in every facet of the game.

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