In Zuby EjioFors historic night at MSG: “Every coach wants a player like him”

John Fanta

College basketball broadcaster and reporter

New York – Zuby EjioFor needed a change in the target after one year. A four-star view outside the high school, which went to Kansas to play under the Hall of Famer Bill Self, his first season in college basketball led to 1.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.2 minutes per game.

EjioFor knew that he could do more in 2023, but he needed someone to get it out of him.

On Friday evening, the 6-foot 9 junior from the ground of the Madison Square Garden went to a standing ovation that sang its name. He had written the history of St. John’s University. He had written great Eastern history.

EjioFor scored 33 points and added nine rebounds, while St. Johns was winning a victory against Marquette and a place in the Big East tournament championship game for the first time since 2000.

Move about Chris Mulllin, Walter Berry and Malik Sealy. EjioFor’s master class led to a performance with the highest score of a St. Johns player in the history of the Big East tournament and the highest edition of a player in a Big East tournament game since Kemba Walker in 2011.

St. Johns Zuby EjioFor ends and-1 to extend the lead against Marquette

St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino described his team as a group that “contradicts many numbers”, and in a way that fits Ejiofor who fits in the Aau ranks of a man who became his mentor and whom he has his second father, Dr.

Philachack was a coach on the Aau racing track, which approached EjioFor after a game and told him that he would help him change his game when he played with his son in her team.

When Ejiofor was looking for a second college destination, it was Philachack who told him that he should look long and hard in Pitino. Philachack knew the family tree of the Hall of Famer, such as Billy Donovan, Tony Delk, Peyton Siva, Donovan Mitchell and so much more. He wanted that for his other son.

“When Zuby came in, I put him through a hard player development session,” said Pitino. “First I noticed that he never complained about the exercises. He went through it.

“Every coach wants a player like (Zuby): selfless, and he only takes care of the team. They are blessed to train him. I have trained for 50 years, and there are very few zubys who only come with them that think of the team.”

When Ejiofor made the decision to commit to Pitino and the Red Storm, Self told him that he got a hard worker and a big child, but that the crime needed work. A few weeks later, Pitino himself began video messages from Ejiofor, who worked with him and took pictures. It was a way to joke with yourself, but also to show the development of his transfer portal.

The development in EjioFor’s game was in full exhibition on Friday evening when he put St. Johns 10 from sales to 10 on a layup on a layup. He sent the Madison Square Garden insane minutes later and threw a exclamation mark with 5:26 to increase the Johnnies 14.

“I only leave the past in the past,” said Ejiofor. “Obviously I didn’t play on the level of my game and the standard, the coach (Pitino) and all of them expected from me. So I got out more aggressive today and my teammates were able to find me in situations in which I could be successful.

“If we play each other and when everyone is really defensively locked up, we are a really scary team.”

Yes, Pitinos Johnnies are indeed scary for the rest of the Big East and every other team in the entire college basketball. They are an elite defensive group that Marquette considers only 2 out of 24 from the 3-point range after the Golden Eagles had started the game 4 of 5 from the city center.

“We just hate to lose, and that’s really because a man who hates more than anything in the world,” said EjioFor in relation to Pitino.

This hatred of defeat and hunger to get to the top has prompted New York City to fall in love with this team of St. John. It is also what the red storm has removed 40 minutes from winning another trophy.

John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for Fox Sports. It covers the sport in a variety of functions, from the number to FS1 to the leading host in the Big East Digital Network to the comment in the area of ​​68 Media Network. Follow him @John_fanta.

Would you like great stories that are delivered directly to your inbox? Create or register in your FOX sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to get a personalized newsletter every day.

CONSEQUENCES Follow your favorite to personalize your FOX sports experience

College basketball

St. John’s Red Storm

Marquette Golden Eagles

Get more from College basketball Follow your favorite to get information about games, news and more