Why Ruben Prey Could Be Breakout Star for St. John's Basketball in 2026-27

Here's why Ruben Prey could be the breakout star for St. Johns basketball this coming season.

Mar 20, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Northern Iowa Panthers forward Will Hornseth (13) controls the ball against St. John's Red Storm forward Rubén Prey (17) in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As the St. John’s Red Storm get set for the upcoming season, expectations will be high despite some uncertainty with eligibility rules in college being a hot topic. 

With year four of the Rick Pitino era set to begin, the Red Storm have become a perennial powerhouse once again in the Big East. St. John’s once again worked hard in the transfer portal and has been able to put together one of the more talented rosters they have had since Pitino took over. 

While there will be some concern about the eligibility status of Keyshawn Hall,  who recently committed, this is a good roster. Since taking over, Pitino has been focused on having a veteran group, and this year will be no different. While he hasn’t had a ton of important players playing multiple years at the school, he will have two key ones returning in Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey. 

As the team heads into next season, Prey has been talked about a lot in recent weeks, and for good reason. 

Why Prey Could Be Breakout Star This Season 

Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; St. John's Red Storm forward Ruben Prey (17) forward Bryce Hopkins (23) reacts after losing to Duke Blue Devils during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With some really strong performances in international play of late, there is a ton of buzz surrounding Prey. The center is entering his third season with St. John’s and is one of the few returning players for Pitino. 

Last year, Prey saw his role increase a bit from his first season with the program. During the 2025-26 campaign, he averaged 4.3 points and 2.1 rebounds as a backup big man for the team. With him playing just over 10 minutes per game, he did make an impact when on the court. Now, with Zuby Ejiofor in the NBA, the path for a bigger role for Prey is clear. 

If Prey sees his minutes increase toward more of a traditional starter around 30 minutes, he could be a player who gets close to averaging a double-double on this team. 

What was really encouraging to see was how he performed in the NCAA Tournament. Against the Duke Blue Devils, he went 4-for-4 from three-point range and totaled 12 points. 

His ability to stretch the floor as a center makes him a really unique offensive player and one that can make a big impact on that end of the floor. Overall, coming off a strong NCAA Tournament and playing well this offseason, Prey figures to be a great candidate to have a breakout season.