St. John’s University is reshaping its men’s basketball roster with an eye toward seasoned international talent, a move prompted by the NCAA’s recent relaxation of eligibility rules that now permits older, professionally‑exposed players to compete.
The latest addition is Babacar Sane, a 6‑foot‑8 forward from Senegal who has inked a scholarship with the Red Storm, bringing a blend of size, athleticism and a developing outside shot to Queens.
Sane, who will turn 23 shortly before the season opens in November, follows a path that includes stints in the Basketball Africa League, three years with the NBA G‑League’s G‑League Ignite, and a recent season in Germany’s ProB where he averaged 10.1 points and shot 48.1 percent from the field.
His professional résumé also features brief periods with Tunisia’s US Monastir and a short‑term contract with Riesen Ludwigsburg, where he paired with former Red Storm guard Stef Smith, a connection that could prove pivotal for chemistry.
Across 16 appearances for Senegal’s senior national team, Sane posted modest but steady numbers — 7.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists — while also contributing to the country’s AfroBasket qualifying campaigns.
The commitment brings the Red Storm to eleven scholarship players for next season, a roster that already includes English point guard Quinn Ellis, Montenegrin wing Djordije Jovanović, Serbian center Lazar Stojković, forward Donnie Freeman and point guard Avery Brown, all acquired through the transfer portal earlier this spring.
Rick Pitino, now in his second year at St. John’s, has repeatedly emphasized the value of veteran presence, citing the NCAA’s policy shift as a catalyst for assembling a squad capable of immediate contention.
A Global Turn in the Big East
If the strategy pays off, the Red Storm could set a benchmark for how mid‑major programs leverage international experience to punch above their traditional weight, a narrative that will likely reverberate across the Big East and beyond.