The Red Storm nab the Friars star forward to form a dynamic frontcourt duo with Zuby Ejiofor
Rick Pitino and the St. John’s men’s basketball team continue to clean up in the transfer portal. Less than a week after signing former top-30 high school recruit Joson Sanon from Arizona State, the Red Storm made their next big-time move.
Providence star transfer Bryce Hopkins is committing to play at St. John’s in the 2025-26 season, spurning a chance to reunite with his former coach Ed Cooley at Georgetown. Jon Rothstein first reported the news.
Hopkins is a physical combo forward who can impact the game on both ends with toughness and versatility. In 50 games played across three seasons with the Friars, Hopkins averaged 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 44.2% from the floor, 30.0% from deep, and 72.8% from the free throw line.
However, St. John’s is also taking a risk in signing Hopkins, who has struggled to stay on the court for the past two seasons. The Chicago native suffered an ACL tear in his left knee during a game against Seton Hall in the 2023-24 season, cutting his junior season short after only 14 games. This past season, Hopkins only played in three games due to a bone bruise in the same knee.
If Hopkins can stay healthy and return to form from his First Team All-Big East sophomore year in 2022-23, in which he averaged 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and had the most efficient season of his career, he could make up for the production lost from RJ Luis Jr.’s departure.
St. John’s now has ten scholarship players on the roster for next season after Hopkins’s commitment. On Monday, guard Brady Dunlap entered the transfer portal.