By JAMES MADDEN
St. John’s star and the 2026 Big East Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 24th overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Ejiofor, who spent three seasons playing for Rick Pitino at St. John’s, was picked one spot ahead of the Knicks, who ended up trading back in Tuesday’s draft after the selection. He had been heavily linked with the reigning NBA champions, as he served as a vital piece in St. John’s revival over the past few seasons.
“Zuby is a relentless offensive rebounder with a much improved 3-point shot,”Pitino told NJ.com before the Draft. “He led the team in rebounding, blocked shots, scoring and assists . His selfless attitude would be a great addition to any [NBA] team.”
The Johnnies’ skilled big man is the program’s first NBA Draft selection since Sir’Dominic Pointer was selected by the Cavaliers in 2015 and its first selection in the first round since Maurice Harkless was picked by 76ers in 2012.
During his senior season, in which Ejiofor led St. John’s to the Sweet Sixteen, he averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.1 blocks per game.
In addition to being named the 2026 Big East Player of the Year, the newest member of the Atlanta Hawks earned a laundry list of awards and accolades during his senior season.
He was named the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year, a CBS Sports Second Team All-American, a USBWA and AP All-America Honorable Mention, the Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sport Scholar of the Year, the Haggerty Award winner, and a CSC First Team Academic All-American.
Ejiofor will look to provide front court depth to a Hawks team that was eliminated in six games by the Knicks last season, which also proved to be the longest series of the Knicks’ title run in 2026.
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