St. John’s Basketball Has the Best Transfer Class in Nation

The St. John's Red Storm have done a great job in the transfer portal once again.

Mar 7, 2026; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Tounde Yessoufou (24) shoots a free throw during the second half at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Since Rick Pitino took over as head coach of the St. John’s Red Storm, the program has steadily improved each season.

The Red Storm didn’t make the NCAA tournament in his first season, but earned a No. 2 seed in Year 2 and advanced to the second round. This past season, St. John’s was a No. 5 seed and advanced to the Sweet 16.

Heading into the 2026-27 season, expectations are once again high for the Big East powerhouse. What has helped the Red Storm find success is their ability to bring impact talent into the program via the transfer portal, taking full advantage of their NIL war chest and the appeal of playing home games at Madison Square Garden.

Those selling points have worked once again, with St. John’s currently holding the No. 1 ranked transfer portal class according to 247Sports. This year’s transfer class includes six players with an average rating of 93.25 and 38.38 points. That is just over a full point better than the No. 2 team in the rankings, the Louisville Cardinals, who averaged a 93.00 rating and had a score of 37.36 points.

St. John's has the best transfer class this year

Auburn Tigers forward Keyshawn Hall (7) dunks the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Wofford Terriers at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. Auburn Tigers defeated Wofford Terriers 93-62. / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Buoying this year’s transfer portal class for the Red Storm are two five-star players: Tounde Yessoufou, formerly of the Baylor Bears, and Keyshawn Hall, formerly of the Auburn Tigers.

Yessoufou landed a massive NIL deal to come to Queens after withdrawing from the 2026 NBA Draft, where he was being viewed as a surefire first-round pick with the potential to be selected in the lottery.

As a freshman with Baylor, Yessoufou averaged 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, providing Pitino with a dynamic scoring wing to help replace the production of Bryce Hopkins.

Hall is another dynamic wing who is benefiting from the 5-in-5 eligibility rules and getting a fifth year to play college basketball. St. John’s is the fifth school of his collegiate career after playing with the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, George Mason Patriots, UFC Knights and Auburn.

He has averaged 16.3 points per game in his career, providing the Red Storm with another bona fide scoring threat to put the ball in the basket.

Red Storm have a lot of talent to replace on the roster

Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; St. John's Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor (24) goes in for a dunk against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

St. John’s also secured commitments from two four-star players: Donnie Freeman, formerly of the Syracuse Orange and Kyle Cuffe Jr., making the jump from the Mercer Bears for his redshirt senior year.

Freeman unfortunately suffered a season-ending Achilles injury this offseason and won’t suit up for the 2026-27 campaign.

Two three-star players round out the transfer portal class: Reed Bailey from the Indiana Hoosiers and Avery Brown from the Columbia Lions.

With so many players departing from the 2025-26 roster along with Hopkins, including first-round pick Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, Jason Sanon, Oziyah Sellers and Dylan Darling, the transfer players will be counted on to fill huge roles alongside returning players Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey.