The Post’s Zach Braziller answers key questions, gives predictions and picks the top games to watch for St. John’s ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season.
Starting 5
What will Year 2 in Queens look like for Ian Jackson?
He seems poised for a quantum leap as a junior. Jackson surprised coach Rick Pitino by returning after an uneven first season at St. John’s, and he has impressed his coach with his actions since. Jackson will return to his natural position at shooting guard after being used on the ball a year ago out of necessity. The Bronx native and former top 10 high school prospect appears more mature and comfortable. His teammates voted him one of two captains — along with Senegalese newcomer Babacar Sane — a promising sign of his personal growth.
Is guard depth a problem?
Casper Pohto and Lefteris Liotopoulos are the top two guards off the bench right now. The hope is that the sharpshooting Liotopoulos can take a step forward as a junior. An unheralded sophomore, Pohto defends and may have had a role on the second unit last year if not for a hip surgery in December. But EuroLeague addition Quinn Ellis and Jackson are going to be asked to play heavy minutes. You could also see St. John’s go big on occasion, with either Tounde Yessoufou or Keyshawn Hall at shooting guard.
Will the entire team be eligible all season?
St. John’s has three players — Indiana transfer Reed Bailey, Hall and Sane — in court dealing with eligibility questions. Bailey and Hall are part of the 2022 high school class (seniors last season) that wasn’t grandfathered into the NCAA’s new five-seasons-in-five-years eligibility model. The NCAA ruled Sane ineligible, mostly because he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz in the summer of 2024, although he never attended training camp with the Jazz or played a game for them. All three are protected through court orders and able to play. Sane has a second injunction hearing in Queens Supreme Court on Nov. 9.
