The fallout from St. John’s heartbreaking NCAA Tournament exit is now underway.
Just days after Friday’s 80-75 Sweet 16 loss at the hands of Duke, Red Storm captain Sadiku Ibine Ayo has indicated his intention to test the transfer portal, noti.group’s Zach Braziller reported Monday.
A reunion is still on the table, according to Braziller, who added that Ayo is “very close” with Rick Pitino, and that the head coach wants him to “weigh his options” with regards to playing time and NIL opportunities.
The 6-foot-6 forward first encountered Pitino during his freshman year at Iona, following the Hall of Fame head coach to St. John’s in 2023. But a season-ending leg injury limited Ayo to just five games that year, and he’s struggled to establish a foothold in the Red Storm’s rotation since.
Ayo played in 30 of the team’s 37 games this season — averaging under eight minutes per contest — and heads into his final year of college eligibility looking to fetch an expanded role.
After the Duke loss, Pitino reflected on St. John’s historic season — which culminated in the Red Storm’s first trip to the Sweet 16 since 1999.
In his post-mortem media address, the legendary coach emphasized his devastation for the players, describing them as one of the most incredible groups he has ever led — with a mindset that will likely never be replicated.
“This was one of the most unique teams I’ve had in 52 years,” said Pitino, who over the weekend inked a lucrative contract extension that added another year to his current deal with the program. “Never one argument amongst the players… They were willing to do anything to try and win.
“They were just the greatest kids in the world,” he added. “Never again [will I have a team] with this type of attitude and just incredible people. My heart breaks for them.”
Just days later, Pitino’s candid assessment already feels prophetic.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
