NEW YORK — A one-time conference foe is set to add some star power to Rick Pitino’s new-look St. John’s roster.
Kadary Richmond, an All-Big East selection with Seton Hall last season, is transferring to St. John’s, adding an established scorer to a team that lost many of its top options from last season.
The Brooklyn-born Richmond, a 6-6 senior guard, led Seton Hall with 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game in 2023-24.
“Kadary Richmond is a player I admired so much in the Big East,” Pitino wrote Tuesday on social media. “He’s a great jump shot away from playing for the Knicks. Awesome talent and we are so excited to have him.”
Richmond spent one season at Syracuse and the past three at Seton Hall. He led the Pirates to a 20-12 record, including 13-7 in the Big East, and an NIT championship last season.
“They were big on life after basketball and player development,” Richmond told ESPN of St. John’s. “That stood out to me, the way they kept it real from day one. They are going to allow me to showcase my ability and become a better basketball player and person.”
His addition comes a day after St. John’s announced the arrival of point guard Deivon Smith, who transferred from Utah after averaging 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game last season. Pitino compared Smith to Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, whom he coached at Louisville.
The new backcourt duo helps bolster a St. John’s team that lost last season’s three leading scorers in point guard Daniss Jenkins, center Joel Soriano and shooting guard Jordan Dingle, who were each seniors.
St. John’s is set to bring back guard R.J. Luis Jr., who averaged 10.9 points per game last season; point guard Simeon Wilcher and forward Brady Dunlap, who made up Pitino’s first St. John’s recruiting class; and forward Zuby Ejiofor, who came off the bench.
Pitino’s recruiting class this year includes four-star forward Jaiden Glover from Elizabeth, N.J.
St. John’s went 20-12, and 11-9 against the Big East, in its first season under Pitino but failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
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