Sanon Transfers to St. John's, Near Home

Joson Sanon, a former top-25 recruit and standout freshman from Arizona State University, has transferred to St. John's to play under renowned coach Rick Pitino. Sanon, who averaged 11.9 points and 3.4 rebounds, chose St. John's for the opportunity to work with Pitino, aiming to develop his skills, particularly in defense. His move marks a return closer to his Massachusetts roots and follows a season impacted by an ankle injury that affected his performance. At St. John's, Sanon joins a team that recently won the Big East regular season and tournament championships but was upset in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. St. John's will be losing several key players and sees Sanon as a crucial addition to fill gaps, especially in shooting, as they plan for the next season. Sanon's decision reflects the growing trend of high-profile transfers in college basketball, influenced by factors such as coaching opportunities and NIL deals.