St. John’s basketball is almost back. The Red Storm open their 2025–26 regular season on November 3 at Carnesecca Arena against Quinnipiac, as Rick Pitino’s third year at the helm gets underway.
After last season’s second-round exit at the hands of Arkansas, Pitino’s squad has been revamped with an influx of new talent and high expectations as one of the nation’s biggest movers in both the transfer portal and NIL activity.
RJ Luis Jr., the team’s leader scorer last year, is gone — now signed to a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics.
Key contributors Simeon Wilcher and Brady Dunlap have also departed. But the Johnnies have once again capitalized on NIL opportunities, turning turnover into transformation with one of the strongest incoming classes in the country.
Meet St. John’s New Faces in 2025-26
Headlining the new arrivals in Queens is Bronx-born Ian Jackson, who transferred home after a freshman season at North Carolina, where he was underutilized under head coach Hubert Davis.
Jackson — once projected as an NBA lottery pick — brings explosive scoring and athleticism. Pitino’s challenge will be to mold him into a complete two-way player, improving his playmaking and defensive instincts. If he succeeds, Jackson could vault back into 2026 NBA Draft discussions.
Jackson joins a reloaded roster that also features Bryce Hopkins from Providence, Joson Sanon from Arizona State, Oziyah Sellers from Stanford, and Dillon Mitchell from Cincinnati — a lineup stacked with wings and forwards who can score from all levels and fit Pitino’s uptempo style.
Pitino also added backcourt grit in Dylan Darling, a tenacious point guard from Idaho State, and frontcourt depth with Handje Tamba, a 6’11” rim protector who brings size and energy.
St. John’s Flexes NIL Power
Returning starter Zuby Ejiofor anchors the interior after re-signing under a major NIL deal, symbolizing how far St. John’s has come in leveraging financial power to build a roster capable of contending deep into March.
That NIL edge — fueled by longtime donor and entrepreneur Mike Repole — has made St. John’s one of the most well-funded and ambitious programs in the nation.
The Red Storm once again rank near the top nationally in NIL investment, allowing Pitino to pair elite coaching with unmatched roster resources.
2025-26 St. John’s Basketball: Schedule and Tickets
Exhibition Games
Saturday, October 18, 2025 | vs. Towson | Carnesecca Arena, Queens, NY | 2:00 PM | Tickets
Saturday, October 25, 2025 | vs. Michigan | Madison Square Garden, NYC | 7:00 PM | Tickets
Regular Season
Monday, November 3, 2025 | vs. Quinnipiac | Carnesecca Arena, Queens, NY | Time TBA | Tickets
Saturday, November 8, 2025 | vs. Alabama | Madison Square Garden, NYC | 12:00 PM | Tickets
Saturday, November 15, 2025 | vs. William & Mary | Carnesecca Arena, Queens, NY | 6:00 PM | | Tickets
Thursday, November 20, 2025 | vs. Bucknell | Carnesecca Arena, Queens, NY | 7:00 PM | Tickets
Monday, November 24, 2025 | vs. Iowa State | Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas | 11:00 AM | Tickets
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | vs. Baylor | Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas | 11:30 AM | Tickets
Saturday, December 6, 2025 | vs. Ole Miss | Madison Square Garden, NYC | 8:00 PM | Tickets
Saturday, December 13, 2025 | vs. Iona | Madison Square Garden, NYC | Time TBA | Tickets
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | vs. DePaul | Carnesecca Arena, Queens, NY | 1:00 PM | Tickets
Saturday, December 20, 2025 | vs. Kentucky | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA | Time TBA | Tickets
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 | vs. Harvard | Carnesecca Arena, Queens, NY | 6:00 PM | Tickets
Wednesday, December 31, 2025 | at Georgetown | Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | Time TBA | Tickets
Saturday, January 3, 2026 | vs. Providence | Madison Square Garden, NYC | Time TBA | Tickets
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | at Butler | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN | Time TBA | Tickets
Saturday, January 10, 2026 | at Creighton | CHI Health Center, Omaha, NE | 1:00 PM | Tickets
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | vs. Marquette | Madison Square Garden, NYC | 6:30 PM | Tickets
Saturday, January 17, 2026 | at Villanova | Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA | 1:00 PM | Tickets
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | vs. Seton Hall | Madison Square Garden, NYC | 7:00 PM | Tickets
Saturday, January 24, 2026 | at Xavier | Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA | Tickets
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | vs. Butler | Madison Square Garden, NYC | Time TBA | Tickets
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | at DePaul | Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL | Time TBA | Tickets
Friday, February 6, 2026 | vs. UConn | Madison Square Garden, NYC | Time TBA | Tickets
Monday, February 9, 2026 | vs. Xavier | Madison Square Garden, NYC | Time TBA | Tickets
Saturday, February 14, 2026 | at Providence | Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI | Time TBA | Tickets
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | at Marquette | Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI | 8:00 PM | Tickets
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | vs. Creighton | Madison Square Garden, NYC | 12:00 PM | Tickets
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | at UConn | PeoplesBank Arena, Hartford, CT | Time TBA | Tickets
Saturday, February 28, 2026 | vs. Villanova | Madison Square Garden, NYC | Time TBA | Tickets
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | vs. Georgetown | Madison Square Garden, NYC | 1:00 PM | Tickets
Friday, March 6, 2026 | at Seton Hall | Prudential Center, Newark, NJ | Time TBA | Tickets
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | Big East Tournament (All Sessions, March 11–14) | Madison Square Garden, NYC | Tickets
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