A Family Legacy in Queens
Kyle Cuffe Jr., a 6‑foot‑7 forward with a reputation for floor‑spacing and clutch shooting, announced his commitment to St. John's Men's Basketball on Wednesday, securing a spot on the roster for the 2026‑27 campaign.
The pledge marks the culmination of a journey that has taken Cuffe from the national championship‑winning Kansas Jayhawks, where he redshirted during the 2021‑22 season, to the Orange of Syracuse and finally the Bears of Mercer, where he posted a career‑high 7.3 points per game last year.
At Mercer, Cuffe shot 39.0 percent from the field, 33.6 percent beyond the arc and 75.0 percent from the free‑throw line, highlighted by a 19‑point outburst against Wofford on Jan. 10 and a three‑game stretch in which he scored in double figures.
He will reunite with former Kansas teammate Zuby Ejiofor, the 2026 BIG EAST Player of the Year, and enter a program that has already celebrated two father‑son duos, making his addition the third chapter of a unique lineage.
Coach Rick Pitino, who returned to the Red Storm sidelines this spring, praised the recruit’s work ethic and shooting touch, noting that Cuffe’s ability to stretch the floor aligns with the team’s evolving offensive identity.
The commitment also underscores the growing pipeline of talent from New Jersey’s Blair Academy, where Cuffe starred as a four‑star recruit, and signals St. John's intent to compete aggressively in the upcoming season.