Zuby Ejiofor came to St. John’s three years ago as one of the last players to join Rick Pitino’s first roster in Queens. He left as one of the program’s most accomplished alumni, a Big East Player of the Year and Haggerty Award winner headlining his numerous accolades.
The do-it-all forward added one final capstone to his legacy Tuesday, becoming the first Red Storm player selected in the NBA Draft since 2015, after the Atlanta Hawks chose Ejiofor 23rd overall in the first round.
In addition to being the first St. John’s draft choice since Sir’Dominic Pointer was a second-round pick on the heels of an NCAA Tournament appearance 11 years ago, Ejiofor is also the first opening-round pick for the program since 2012, when Queens native Maurice Harkless went 15th overall to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Whoever gets him, they’re getting a relentless winner who’s going to be around 12-13 years,” Pitino told reporters in an offseason media availability last month. “He’s a Udonis Haslem type of basketball player.”
Haslem, known for his uncommon longevity in the modern NBA, spent his entire 20-year career with the Miami Heat, one of just three players in NBA history to play two decades with the same team.
Ejiofor, a rare breed in the college landscape for staying at St. John’s three seasons following his transfer from Kansas, earned Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors this season as he led the Red Storm to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999. The native Texan, with fellow forwards Bryce Hopkins and Dillon Mitchell — both of whom project to be second-round selections as the draft continues Wednesday — alongside him, averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, each figure leading the Johnnies en route to a 30-7 record. Ejiofor also supplemented his on-court prowess in the classroom, graduating with a 3.70 grade point average while being recognized as the Big East’s Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Known throughout college basketball for his relentless work ethic, Ejiofor brings an innate desire to win to his new home, an intangible that was honed to perfection under the aegis of an equally rabid competitor in Pitino. No further was that evident than when Ejiofor worked out on the St. John’s campus for the first time after transferring from Kansas, passing Pitino’s rigorous player development session with flying colors despite being initially wary about the Queens surroundings.
“Your son is going to be a superstar when I’m done with him,” the coach told Andy Philachack, Ejiofor’s father figure and AAU coach.
Pitino upheld his end of the bargain, gradually transforming Ejiofor into an all-conference force on both sides of the basketball. His big man followed suit, blossoming into a player now mentioned in the same breath alongside St. John’s greats the likes of Chris Mullin, Malik Sealy and Felipe Lopez, and one who will occupy a spot in the newly-minted Red Storm ring of honor that will be inaugurated next season.
“He’s improved his shooting, spent a lot of time trying to improve his 3-point shot,” Pitino said prior to the start of the recently concluded season. “I named a horse after him, but Zuby’s better than the horse.”
New York’s latest thoroughbred now goes to the post at a higher level, where he will continue to do what he has consistently proven since he became a household name: Outwork his competition and leave no doubt of his potential.
“If you know me personally, you know I’m never scared of the moment,” Ejiofor told Zach Braziller of the New York Post Monday. “I don’t shy away from doing the work.”
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