By ADAM ZAGORIA
St. John’s big man Zuby Ejiofor has made a decision on his future.
The 6-foot-9 junior from Garland, Texas will return to St. John’s next season on a new NIL deal and will pursue more championships instead of trying to test the NBA Draft waters, his dad confirmed to ZAGSBLOG. St. John’s coach Rick Pitino said all along that Ejiofor would return next season.
“His goal is to win the Big East, the Big East Tournament and make a deeper run in March,” said Andy Philachack, Ejifor’s dad.
Ejiofor averaged 14.7 points and 8.1 rebounds this season as St. John’s won the Big East regular-season and tournament titles before losing to Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was named the Big East Most Improved Player.
After Ejiofor went for 33 points and 7 rebounds in the win over Marquette in the Big East semifinals.
“Every coach wants to have a player like him: selfless, just cares about the team,” Pitino said then. “You get blessed in coaching him. I’m coaching 50 years, and there are very few Zubys that come along that just think about the team. Whether he scores 33 or three, it’s all about the team. Every timeout, he’s saying something positive to the guys.”
St. John’s is expected to lose Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith and Aaron Scott but just added Arizona State transfer wing Joson Sanon.
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