Rick Pitino has completed his construction of the Red Storm’s roster with a final flourish that should vault St. John’s back into the Final Four conversation.
Auburn transfer Keyshawn Hall, one of the top remaining players in the transfer portal, committed to St. John’s on Tuesday evening. Hall announced the decision on social media shortly before 7 p.m.
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“I’m happy to be committed to one of the best coaches of all time and learn and develop under the St. John’s staff,” Hall posted on Twitter/X, “Nothing else matters but winning! Let’s go Johnnie Nation.”
Like many senior college basketball players, the 6-foot-7 forward is currently ineligible, but he is still seeking a fifth year of eligibility through the courts. Hall was one of several athletes who were granted a preliminary injunction by an Ohio judge in July. However, the NCAA earned a stay on the decision not long after, pausing the judge’s decision until an appeal takes place in the coming weeks. This injunction is not to be confused with the broader federal ruling by a Colorado district court in July, which was also paused at the NCAA’s request.
Hall went undrafted in this year’s NBA draft before signing an Exhibit-10 contract with the Miami Heat and making five appearances in the Summer League.
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If Hall is deemed eligible, the Johnnies will be getting one of the sport’s potent bucket-getters over the last few years. Across Hall’s well-traveled college career, he’s led each of his last three teams in scoring at George Mason, UCF, and Auburn. Last season with the Tigers, he racked up 19.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 45.1% from the field, 37.9% from three, and 85.7% from the free-throw line.
Hall already gave St. John’s a first-hand look at his scoring prowess in the Players Era Festival last season, scoring 20 points, pulling down eight rebounds, and giving out five assists in the Tigers’ 85-74 victory over the Red Storm.
The St. John’s roster as currently constructed would slot Hall into the starting power forward spot, replacing Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman following his season-ending Achilles injury last month. He would join a star-studded lineup that should include Quinn Ellis, Ian Jackson, Tounde Yessoufou, and Ruben Prey.
