By David Okula (@david16okula)
NEW YORK — It was a big day in a different kind of court for St. John’s on Monday, with Babacar Sane having his case for eligibility this season heard in Queens County Supreme Court.
Ultimately, the court was unable to reach a decision and delayed the case until November 9, which is one day after the Johnnies’ second regular season game of the season against Iona. Due to the fact that Sane has already received a temporary restraining order from the court, he will remain eligible for at least all three of St. John’s exhibition games over the next few weeks and its first two regular season games against Monmouth on November 2 and Iona November 8.
Sane has spent time over the past five years playing in both the NBA G League and in professional leagues internationally. He played for three different teams in the G League from 2022-25 and was in the top professional league in Germany last season, where he averaged 9.9 points per game across 30 games.
The NCAA’s main argument for why Sane should be ruled ineligible is centered around the fact that he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz in 2024, according to Zach Braziller of the New York Post. However, Sane was waived by the Jazz before he could ever play a game under the contract.
Sane is currently expected to play a major role in the Red Storm’s rotation, whether in the starting lineup or as the first man off the bench. The 6-foot-7 forward has been talked about throughout the offseason by head coach Rick Pitino as someone who can play and guard multiple positions. Most recently, he was named one of the team captains on Saturday, alongside junior guard Ian Jackson.
St. John’s was scheduled to have another key court date Tuesday with forward Keyshawn Hall fighting for his own eligibility, but that was pushed back a week to October 13, one day before the Red Storm’s first exhibition game against Drexel. For now, the waiting game continues for Sane, Hall and guard Quinn Ellis, who has still yet to receive an official approval to play from the NCAA.
Pitino emphasized multiple times at Big East media day on Thursday that St. John’s is operating under the expectation that all three players will eventually be ruled eligible. For the time being, the Red Storm will walk away from this week knowing one of its captains will be on the court for at least its first two regular season contests.
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