It’s been a busy couple of days for St. John’s.
Rick Pitino continued adding to his roster with Tuesday’s commitment of Imran Suljanovic, a 6-8 wing from Austria who became the first freshman to join the Red Storm this offseason.
“Was watching Imran on film and had to see him in person,” Pitino wrote on social media.
“Traveled outside Bologna where he impressed me more with his overall game than what I watched on film. Shoots, passes, handles, and is extremely agile. Great potential!!! Very excited to have him join the Johnnies.”
Suljanovic, who turns 19 this week, plays for Pallacanestro Reggiana in Northern Italy.
He averaged 22.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game over seven appearances for Austria at last summer’s international FIBA U18 EuroBasket competition, where he shot 39% on 3-point attempts.
Suljanovic joins a St. John’s roster that previously added transfers Joson Sanon from Arizona State; Bryce Hopkins from Providence; Oziyah Sellers from Stanford; and Ian Jackson from North Carolina.
Jackson, a former five-star prospect from the Bronx, announced his move to St. John’s on Monday.
The additions of Sanon, Sellers, Jackson and now Suljanovic should elevate a Red Storm offense that ranked 339th among Division I schools in 3-point percentage (30.1%) last season.
The five additions come amid an offseason in which St. John’s had to replace outgoing seniors Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith and Aaron Scott, as well as RJ Luis Jr. — the reigning Big East Player of the Year — who declared for the NBA Draft and entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Other Red Storm players to enter the transfer portal include combo guard Simeon Wilcher and sharp-shooting forward Brady Dunlap.
Suljanovic is the latest international recruit added by Pitino. The Red Storm already rostered Lefteris Liotopoulos from Greece and Ruben Prey from Portugal, who will both be sophomores next season.
