The Bryce Hopkins crossroads that changed everything for St. John’s

The Jan. 3 loss to Providence feels like a turning point to St. John’s season, an ugly setback that has turned into six consecutive victories. 

That certainly seems to be the case for Bryce Hopkins. 

“That game didn’t sit right with me at all. I feel like after that, a switch definitely turned,” the senior forward said Tuesday as the 25th-ranked Johnnies prepared to host Butler on Wednesday at the Garden. “From there, I just tried to not think as much, go out there and play free. There were a lot of emotions going into that game, a lot of whatever the fans were talking about, stuff like that.” 

Hopkins has been a different player since that contest against his former team — the player most expected when he transferred to St. John’s in the spring. Over the past six games, he has been the Johnnies leader in plus-minus at plus-75. He is averaging 15.3 points on 47.8 percent shooting and tallying 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

Most importantly, the 6-foot-7 forward has been dynamite after halftime, playing his best when his best is needed. That was no more apparent than Saturday’s come-from-behind win over Xavier.

In the final 20 minutes, Hopkins scored 14 points to go with six rebounds. In the biggest win of the season, on Jan. 18 at Villanova, Hopkins was also terrific in the second half, notching 13 points, five rebounds and two assists. 

“In crunch time, he’s wanted the ball, he’s taken it to the rim,” coach Rick Pitino said. “He’s been very strong with our comebacks.” 

Earlier in the season, St. John’s struggled in close games. It held a lead in the second half in all five of its losses. But it now has won three straight games by single figures, and Hopkins has been a big part of that. There were questions if this team had a closer. Hopkins believes he can be that guy. 

“I do feel some people do have a clutch gene about them. I think I do have a little bit of clutch in myself,” he said. “I just try to stay calm in those times when we might be down by a large margin or whatever the case may be, I try to rely on my work. … To be nervous in those situations, you can’t think like that. You have to rely on your work and the rest of it will handle itself.” 

A major part of this run has been the new big starting lineup. Pitino replaced Joson Sanon with Dillon Mitchell, who has been excellent over the six games as a defender, finisher and offensive creator at the point forward position. It has also helped Hopkins. 

“Dillon is a great player, the intensity that he plays with, his ability to playmake for other guys,” Hopkins said. “We feed off each other well. His versatility helps us out, I can spread the court and he can get downhill. We do play well off of each other.” 

There obviously are a lot of factors in play with Hopkins. One that can’t be minimized is that this is his first full season since the 2022-23 campaign. He tore his ACL on Jan. 3, 2024, and only appeared in three games a year ago. He may have just needed time with a new coach and new teammates to find his game. 

“I feel like I have settled in a little bit,” Hopkins said, “and I am getting back to that player I was a while ago.”