The 2025–26 men’s college basketball season is already buzzing with anticipation, and much of that hype stems from the transfer portal — a now-permanent fixture in shaping championship contenders. At the top of the movement sits St. John’s, which has surged up the national rankings thanks to a dynamic transfer haul that rivals any in recent memory.
Rick Pitino’s squad didn’t just plug holes through the portal — they reinvented themselves. St. John’s landed multiple high-impact players, headlined by RJ Luis Jr., formerly of UMass and Miami. Luis, a 6-foot-6 guard with elite scoring ability and two-way upside, is widely considered one of the top overall transfers available this cycle. After an injury-limited stint at Miami, he’s fully healthy and ready to reassert himself as one of the most gifted wings in college basketball.
Luis isn’t alone. The Red Storm also added Handje Tamba, a 7-foot center who brings immediate size, rim protection, and rebounding presence to the frontcourt. Tamba, who played previously at Tennessee and Coastal Carolina, fills a major void in the paint and gives St. John’s a physical anchor they lacked in the 2024–25 campaign.
The combination of length, scoring, and defensive versatility has vaulted St. John’s to the top tier of transfer portal rankings, according to multiple outlets, including 247Sports, On3, and Rivals. Pitino’s aggressive approach in the portal has transformed the roster from fringe tournament hopeful to a potential Big East title contender.
Building the New Red Storm
Last season, St. John’s showed flashes of brilliance under Pitino, but inconsistency and a lack of depth kept them from sustaining success. That won’t be the case this time around. With Luis and Tamba joining returning guard Daniss Jenkins and a developing young core, the Red Storm now have one of the most balanced and experienced rosters in the Big East.
Luis gives them a go-to scorer who can handle the ball, shoot from deep, and guard multiple positions. Tamba allows Pitino to finally execute his trademark defensive pressure with a true rim protector behind his trapping guards.
But Pitino didn’t stop there. St. John’s also secured commitments from versatile wing Emory Lanier (Belmont) and combo forward Simeon Wilcher (North Carolina to Albany). Each adds valuable skill and lineup flexibility, allowing Pitino to throw out long, athletic, and interchangeable lineups that can defend, run, and shoot.
It’s a roster designed not just to compete — but to dominate.
Transfer Trends Across the Nation
While St. John’s grabbed the headlines, they weren’t alone in assembling an elite portal class. Programs like Kentucky, Iowa, UConn, and Arkansas also made significant moves.
Kentucky, under new head coach Mark Pope, made headlines with the additions of Jaxson Robinson and Keba Keita, two proven producers at the high-major level. Iowa, meanwhile, added sharp-shooting guard PJ Haggerty, who led Tulsa in scoring and instantly improves their perimeter attack.
But few schools matched St. John’s in both quantity and quality. Pitino and his staff understood the new transfer-driven era and embraced it, targeting players with maturity, upside, and a hunger to win. That combination makes them especially dangerous in a Big East conference that remains one of the nation’s most competitive.
Pitino’s Portal Blueprint
Pitino’s ability to adapt has always been one of his hallmarks. Now, in the era of the transfer portal and NIL, he’s once again showing that elite coaching is about more than X’s and O’s — it’s about roster construction, player development, and culture building.
“Recruiting through the portal is about fit, readiness, and roles,” Pitino said this offseason. “We’re not looking for stars — we’re looking for players who want to compete, get better, and win. That’s what we’ve built this offseason.”
With the portal class now complete, expectations are soaring in Queens. A deep run in March isn’t just possible — it may be expected.
Looking Ahead
The 2025–26 season will serve as a referendum on the effectiveness of portal-first roster building. Can programs like St. John’s translate offseason wins into postseason success? If so, expect the trend to continue — and for more coaches to follow Pitino’s lead.
For now, though, the Red Storm stand atop the transfer rankings — and the rest of the college basketball world is officially on notice.