1 transfer portal target St. John’s basketball must sign to get back to Sweet 16

St. John’s basketball entered 2025-26 with only four returners and needing to replace top scorer RJ Luis. Yet this Red Storm team still dominated the Big East under Rick Pitino. And eventually ended a 27-year dry spell in making the Sweet 16.

Pitino built his Storm teams off the College Basketball Transfer Portal. The 73-year-old eventually found gems too through there.

Zuby Ejiofor arrived as a Kansas reject but is now the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner as the nation’s top center. Bryce Hopkins showed up via conference rival Providence. Now he’s a contender for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year nod.

But that’s not all when we gravitate toward the backcourt.

Dylan Darling came via Idaho State to put the Johnnies back to the Sweet 16 against Kansas. Even Bronx native Ian Jackson bolted North Carolina to energize the New York region.

Pitino and his staff landed program changers. Now he needs to add this portal target in order to return to the regional semifinals…and stretch the season beyond that.

Red Storm portal target became ACC star

Pitino must turn in multiple directions to reload his roster. But the past national title winner must improve shooting and guard play in that order.

Juke Harris of Wake Forest rises as the top option.

Yes, the Johnnies are proactively chasing KJ Lewis of Georgetown according to Joe Tipton of On3/Rivals. The Hoyas small forward becomes a potential Hopkins here in jumping from one Big East school to another. Former Arkansas guard DJ Wagner is another potential impact newcomer. Especially with Pitino one-upping past rival John Calipari if he lands the guard.

But Harris brings 21.4 points per game into the portal. Plus adds multiple reasons why he can elevate St. John’s.

Harris addresses St. John’s flaws if brought over

St. John’s struggled shooting consistently from behind the arc. The Storm’s guards came with size flaws and depth issues. Ultimately both weaknesses became exposed against Duke.

Harris coming over instantly strengthens the backcourt in Queens.

The former Demon Deacon shot 33.2% from 3-point land. But he delivered 15 games of banking three baskets from long range or more, including nailing seven 3-pointers against West Virginia in the 75-66 win on Dec. 6.

St. John’s will love how he stepped up against powerhouses too. Harris delivered 19 points in the near upset of national champion Michigan on Nov. 11. He produced 26 versus nationally-ranked Texas Tech. Harris torched North Carolina and Miami with consecutive 28-point evenings despite the losses. He even lit Duke up with 23 points.

Luis thrived as a 6-foot-7 scoring option under Pitino. His early exit to the NBA Draft clearly impacted the 3-point offense for the Red Storm. Harris is similar in height.

Adding Harris makes up for that loss, plus hands St. John’s its next potential breakout transfer and toast of New York.

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