As official practices near, Rick Pitino has one major question when it comes to his revamped roster.
Who will lead them?
“I think that’s my biggest concern,” he said on Tuesday after St. John’s formally introduced Ed Kull as its new athletic director. “Daniss [Jenkins] was so good at that, and this group is not that way [yet].”
St. John’s did bring in a lot of experienced transfers, from Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall) to Deivon Smith (Utah) to Aaron Scott (North Texas).
But through summer and the early part of fall workouts, nobody has filled that role. Four contributors from last year’s team returned, but Simeon Wilcher and Brady Dunlap will only be sophomores.
That leaves juniors RJ Luis and Zuby Ejiofor.
Ejiofor, the projected starting center, is a possibility to develop into a leader.
The personable big man has frequently been praised by Pitino as one of his hardest workers, and is well-liked.
“Kadary, although he has a very good personality, he speaks softly but carries a big stick. So he’s not Daniss in that area,” Pitino said. “I don’t know who’s going to emerge. I don’t think we have a Daniss to emerge leadership-wise.
“Kadary is going to do it in his fashion, his way. Deivon has a very outgoing personality, so he can be a leader. Zuby is gregarious, he can be a leader. But I think it’s going to have to be by committee.”
Pitino drew laughs from reporters when he was asked his thoughts about Connecticut flirting with leaving the Big East for the Big 12.
“We’re fining UConn for thinking of leaving, they’re getting a major fine,” the Hall of Fame coach said jokingly.
Despite the two-time defending champions nearly bolting — the Big 12 opted to “pause” discussions about adding the Huskies — Pitino believes the Big East remains in a good position amidst all the changes in college sports. The league has won four of the last eight national championships, and is expected to be formidable again.
“I think the Big East will be much better this year, it’s stronger because the bottom is coming up,” he said. “I think the middle is stronger. Xavier has improved, we have improved, Georgetown has gotten significantly better, and people at the top — Marquette, Creighton and UConn — are all strong once again, and [so is] Providence.”
Pitino believes highly regarded international import Ruben Prey will be an “integral part” of the team this season.
The Portuguese forward is believed to have NBA upside.
He arrived on campus in late August.
“Ruben came in in bad shape, and the change just in two weeks, the transformation, has been amazing,” Pitino said of the 6-foot-10 Prey, who has a 7-foot-2 wingspan.
Prey nearly joined the Johnnies last season, but opted to stay overseas and play for Joventut Badalona, the Spanish club team he’s been with since the age of 14.