The Red Storm knew they needed a big man who could fill Zuby Ejiofor’s gargantuan shoes and serve as the face of their vaunted defense. Unfortunately for them, it doesn’t look like they are going to get that kind of player in the portal this year.
Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop, one of the most highly-regarded centers in the portal, who was deciding between Gonzaga and St. John’s, committed to play for the Bulldogs on Tuesday evening. The news was first reported by Zach Braziller of the New York Post.
Diop completed visits to each school this month and most recently visited St. John’s this weekend. According to Dave Berov from the Eye of the Storm Podcast, the Red Storm made the biggest offer of the two teams, but they were unable to close. The deciding factor was the connections forged between Diop’s agent and some Gonzaga players.
The 7-foot-1 center from Rufisque, Senegal, was one of the best freshmen in the country last season, averaging 13.6 points, a team-best 5.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 56.9% from the field and 30.8% from three for the Sun Devils. Diop menaced opposing shooters in the Big 12, ranking second in the conference with 2.1 blocks per game.
Making matters worse in losing the recruiting battle for Diop: there aren’t any sure bets at center left in the transfer portal that St. John’s can pivot to. Other major big men linked to the Red Storm but who committed elsewhere include Najai Hines (Seton Hall to UConn), Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati to Michigan), and Flory Bidunga (Kansas to Louisville). The highest-rated uncommitted center in the transfer portal is former Seattle big man Austin Maurer, who is ranked 33rd among centers in his class and averaged 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds this past season.
St. John’s is still looking to fill the five remaining spots on their 2026-27 roster. So far in the transfer portal, they’ve added former Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman and former Columbia guard Avery Brown.