Oziyah Sellers Commits:: St. John's landed Oziyah Sellers, a highly-regarded shooter transferring from Stanford.
Addressing a Need:: Sellers' addition directly targets St. John's need for improved outside shooting, a key focus for Coach Pitino this offseason.
Why Sellers Chose St. John's:: Sellers cited the appeal of playing in a major market (New York) and Pitino's specific plans for him as key decision factors.
Ian Jackson in Play:: Former North Carolina five-star freshman guard Ian Jackson, now in the transfer portal, is strongly considering St. John's. Returning to his home state (Bronx, NY) is a potential draw.
Competition for Jackson:: While St. John's appears to be the favorite, NC State, under new coach Will Wade, has also emerged as a contender for Jackson.
Why this matters:: These moves highlight the intense competition in the transfer portal and St. John's aggressive strategy to quickly rebuild and compete by acquiring proven talent, particularly shooters, to fit Pitino's system.
St. John's basketball has made a significant move to bolster its offense by securing Stanford transfer Oziyah Sellers. Recognized as one of the premier shooters available in the transfer portal, Sellers' commitment provides an immediate 'shot in the arm' for Rick Pitino's squad, aiming to rectify last season's shooting struggles. Sellers, who spent his previous college years on the West Coast, expressed enthusiasm about moving to the 'biggest market possible' and confidence in Coach Pitino's vision for his senior year.
The Red Storm's portal activity might not end with Sellers. They are heavily linked with Ian Jackson, a dynamic guard who entered the portal after a productive freshman season at North Carolina. Jackson, a Bronx native, earned ACC All-Freshman honors, averaging 11.9 points and shooting an impressive 39.5% from three-point range. His potential return to New York to play for St. John's is a major storyline.
Jackson is known for his explosive scoring ability, though consistency was an issue during his freshman campaign. He possesses significant upside if he can refine his decision-making. St. John's has a clear need at shooting guard following the departure of RJ Luis to the portal. However, they face competition from NC State, which is also actively recruiting Jackson and can offer substantial playing time under new coach Will Wade. Experts currently view St. John's as the likely destination for the former five-star recruit.
Who is Oziyah Sellers?
Oziyah Sellers is a guard transferring from Stanford to St. John's, known primarily for his strong shooting ability.
Why is St. John's targeting shooters?
Coach Rick Pitino identified improving the team's shooting as a major offseason priority after last season.
Who is Ian Jackson?
Ian Jackson is a highly-rated guard from the Bronx who played his freshman year at North Carolina before entering the transfer portal. He was an ACC All-Freshman selection.
Is Ian Jackson definitely going to St. John's?
While St. John's is considered the favorite, NC State is also recruiting him, and his decision is not yet final.
St. John's is aggressively using the transfer portal to improve its roster, specifically targeting shooting talent.
The addition of Oziyah Sellers is a direct attempt to fix a known weakness.
The potential recruitment of Ian Jackson could further elevate the team's backcourt talent and scoring punch.
This highlights the modern era of college basketball roster building, where the transfer portal plays a crucial role.
These additions could significantly reshape St. John's upcoming season. Do you think these moves will make the Red Storm Big East contenders? Let us know!
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Source 1: St. John’s lands top shooter Oziyah Sellers in Rick Pitino’s bid to fix biggest weakness target="_blank"
Source 2: Ian Jackson transfer portal update: New candidate emerging for former UNC five-star target="_blank" (Note: Using example.com as the specific 247Sports URL wasn't fully provided in the text)
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