The St. John's Red Storm have done a great job of restocking the roster year after year under head coach Rick Pitino.
He has lived in the transfer portal, bringing in players who have helped elevate the team each season. Entering Year 4 at the helm, he has seen his team's postseason performance improve every year, missing the NCAA tournament in Year 1 before winning one game in Year 2 and three this past year.
Will the Red Storm be able to advance beyond the Sweet 16 this season? The potential is certainly there for a deep run, especially if their entire team remains eligible for the upcoming campaign.
There are still question marks about who will be in the lineup on opening night and throughout the season, with eligibility concerns. Lawsuits are still pending, but for now, everyone on the roster is eligible, and St. John's has an incredibly talented crew.
Which four St. John's players are in top 100 ranking?
That is evident by the fact that they had four players make the Top 100 and one player ranking done at CBS Sports. The only teams that had more players were the Duke Blue Devils and Florida Gators, who had five apiece. Along with the Red Storm, the Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines and Texas Longhorns all have four.
Part of the process of ranking these players was taking into account if they would be eligible for the entirety of the season. That is almost certainly why Babacar Sane wasn't listed, because he certainly looks the part of a top 100 men's college basketball player, but he may not be eligible past Nov. 9, when his hearing is set for.
Even without Sane on the list, St. John's is stacked with talent. The highest-ranked player on the list is Tounde Yessofou. A transfer from the Baylor Bears, he looks poised to take his game to another level under the tutelage of Pitino.
Viewed as a one-and-done candidate, he entered the 2026 NBA Draft but decided to withdraw right ahead of the deadline to transfer and commit to the Red Storm. He is No. 27 on the list.
Next on the list is Quinn Ellis. An international import, he was cleared to play just ahead of the team's first preseason game against the Drexel Dragons. Coming in at No. 52, he will end up being ranked too low on this list.
St. John's is loaded with talent on the perimeter
Ellis has the upside to be the best point guard in the country this season. Given his EuroLeague experience and time with the Great Britain National Team, he will not be fazed by anything in college basketball as a 23-year-old.
The next player on the list for St. John's is yet another transfer. Keyshawn Hall is the second five-star player the team secured in the portal after he played last season with the Auburn Tigers.
He is ranked No. 68, and it is fair to wonder if he too will end up being too low. Eligibility concerns likely impacted his ranking, but his representation in court was able to prove he never signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Miami Heat, which was his biggest hurdle to being cleared.
Last but not least is Ian Jackson, one of the few returning players to the program. He is ranked No. 76 and has been drawing praise from Pitino for the work he has put in this offseason. Jackson has been torching his teammates in practice and will benefit greatly from not having to run the offense by himself, with Ellis in the backcourt alongside him.
Today's best reads
- St. John's Basketball Has a Special Point Guard in Quinn Ellis
- Predicting St. John's Basketball Starting Lineup for Season
- St. John's Basketball Has Top Incoming International Player This Season
- St. John's Basketball Wing Correctly Ranked as Top Impact Transfer
- Rick Pitino Excited for Upside of St. John's Basketball Team
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/st-johns as St. John's Basketball Well Represented on Top 100 Players List.