St. John’s Basketball Receives Incredible Quinn Ellis News

The St. John’s Red Storm are set to begin the 2026-27 men’s college basketball season with an exhibition game against the Drexel Dragons on Oct. 14.

With only one day until tip-off, the team is still unsure of the status of several players on its roster. While head coach Rick Pitino is confident all of his players will be eligible, lawsuits are still open, with pending court cases.

However, there is one player that Pitino now knows for sure will be in his lineup: point guard Quinn Ellis. According to Zach Braziller of the New York Post on X, sources have revealed the international backcourt star is eligible to play for St. John’s this season.

The 23-year-old, who hails from Sheffield, England, has been awaiting a decision on his eligibility. He isn’t in the same boat as some of his teammates, who are seeking a fifth year of eligibility through the new 5-on-5 rules or fighting against signing professional deals with NBA teams, but the uncertainty is similar.

Quinn Ellis reportedly eligible to play for St. John's

Nov 25, 2023; Queens, New York, USA; A Nike basketball with the St. John's Red Storm logo at Carnesecca Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Ellis has quite a resume from playing overseas. In 2025, he was the Italian Cup MVP and Italian Lega A Best Player Under 22 recipient. His performance this summer, playing with Great Britain, was impressive as well.

An all-around talent, he is going to make an impact on both ends of the floor in every facet of the game.

Now, that is where all the focus can be. With the eligibility concerns behind him, all of the focus turns to what he can do on the court to help the team.

Ellis is set to take over as the starting point guard for the Red Storm, addressing one massive question mark that loomed over the program. With him in the fold, the team’s ceiling has risen exponentially, and their lineup is coming more into focus.

Quinn Ellis is eligible, per source. #sjubb
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) October 13, 2026

Ellis will be starting in the backcourt alongside Ian Jackson, one of the returning players from last season’s Sweet 16 squad. Tounde Yessoufou, a five-star transfer from the Baylor Bears, will be at small forward. Ruben Prey, another returnee from last season, will be at center.

The power forward spot is still open, with eligibility cases for Babacar Sane and Keyshawn Hall still unresolved. Both of them have temporary restraining orders to make them eligible, and as long as they can play, one of them will assume that starting power forward spot.

That spot was originally expected to go to Donnie Freeman, a transfer from the Syracuse Orange, but he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

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