Days after RJ Luis' official farewell, Rick Pitino's St. John's lands 2025 Swedish prospect

Another top high school prospect will be heading to Rick Pitino's St. John's. On3 Sports reporter Joe Tipton posted on X on Saturday that Swedish guard Casper Pohto has committed to join the Red Storm.

Pohto posted impressive numbers when he represented Sweden in last year's FIBA U18 Eurobasket in Tranmere. He played seven games for Sweden, averaging 13.6 points, 6.0 boards, 2.4 dimes and 1.4 steals. The 6-foot-4 guard recently attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas.

Pohto's move to St. John's comes just days after RJ Luis bid farewell to the Red Storm. Luis posted a message on X, thanking his family and the fans for the support they have shown him during his time at St. John's. He reflected on his shin injury and the team's victories this past season as cherished memories.

Luis concluded his message by thanking Pitino and his teammates. He thanked the coaching staff for believing in him and allowing him to showcase his abilities.

RJ Luis declared for the NBA draft after posting impressive numbers for the Red Storm last season. He averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 boards, 2.0 dimes and 1.4 steals during his junior year, becoming the first player since Walter Berry in 1985 to win the Big East Player of the Year award.

Rick Pitino bolsters lineup with key acquisitions through transfer portal

Rick Pitino's lineup for the 2025-26 season remains stacked despite the departure of RJ Luis, with St. John's adding key players through the transfer portal. They secured the commitments of Ian Jackson, Bryce Hopkins, Joson Sanon and Oziyah Sellers.

St. Johnís mens basketball head coach Rick Pitino speaks at a press conference. Photo: Imagn

Jackson made waves in his freshman year with the North Carolina Tar Heels, averaging 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists through 36 games. He is expected to be a fan favorite as he grew up in the New York area.

Hopkins will resume his college basketball career at St. John's after a knee injury cut short his 2024-25 season. He played just three games for Providence in the previous campaign, averaging 17.0 points and 7.7 boards during that span.

Sanon impressed in his freshman season with Arizona State, averaging 11.9 points and 3.4 rebounds. Meanwhile, Sellers averaged 13.7 points in his junior year at Stanford. Pitino also added Dillon Mitchell, Dylan Darling and Handje Tamba to his roster.