A Quiet Yet Anticipated Night in Brooklyn
The NBA Draft will descend upon the Barclays Center on Thursday night, and three former St. John's standouts are poised to have their names called. Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins represent the first wave of Johnnies to be in serious draft conversation in more than a decade.
Ejiofor entered the draft after being crowned Big East Player of the Year, a distinction that usually guarantees a first‑round slot. Yet the invitation list omitted his name from the Green Room, prompting analysts to question whether his projected mid‑to‑late first‑round position might slip.
Mitchell, who surged up boards following a standout performance at the NBA Combine, now enjoys a projection as an early second‑round pick. His athletic measurements and defensive versatility have drawn praise from scouts who see him as a potential steal for a team willing to look beyond the marquee names.
Hopkins, fresh from an eye‑catching showing at the G‑League Combine, is slated to be selected in the mid‑to‑late second round. His rapid ascent reflects both his collegiate production and the upside teams envision in his skill set.
The last time three St. John's players were drafted in the same year was 1983, and the program has not seen a draftee since 2015. If any of the trio hear their names on Thursday, it would mark a rare resurgence for a basketball tradition that has long awaited its next wave of NBA talent.