A New Era for St. John's Basketball
Zuby Ejiofor arrived in Chicago eager to translate his college success into the professional arena, joining a crowded field of prospects at the NBA Draft Combine.
The 6‑foot‑7 forward spent the week participating in a series of shooting drills, showcasing a smooth release and a willingness to adapt to the faster pace of NBA‑level competition.
During breaks, he sat down with representatives from several teams, most notably the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks, exchanging contact information and gauging the fit between his skill set and their roster needs.
Ejiofor credits much of his development to veteran coach Rick Pitino, whose emphasis on fundamentals and mental toughness has shaped the player’s approach to both offense and defense.
Analysts currently project the guard to be selected somewhere between the 25th and 35th overall picks in June’s draft, a range that would place him in the latter half of the first round.
Beyond the combine, Ejiofor is scheduled to return to New York for St. John’s commencement ceremony on May 17, and later to Brooklyn for the draft itself on June 23, events that will cap a whirlwind spring.
This year marks the first time the St. John’s program has sent three athletes — Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins — to the NBA Draft Combine, underscoring the rising profile of the university’s basketball pipeline.