FlurrySports ranks the best players in St. John’s basketball history, including players throughout all of the eras of the university’s existence.
It is no secret that New York City is the mecca of basketball in the world. While that remains true, what has escaped the city has been a college basketball championship in the modern era. CCNY was able to take home a title in 1950, but outside of that, when it comes to the college game in NYC, St. John’s basketball reigns supreme. Yes, there have been some bad stretches of basketball for the Red Storm, but with Rick Pitino at the helm, it appears that St. John’s is on the right path to bringing NYC its first championship in over 80 years.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the five greatest players in St. John’s basketball history, including a few players who saw great success in the professional ranks.
Best College Players in St. John’s Basketball History
5. Zuby Ejiofor (2023-26)
12 PPG (points per game), 6.2 RPG, 2 APG, 55.1% FG, 27.1% 3PT
St. John’s historic success is primarily defined by its run in the mid-80s, but in the Johnnies resurgence in the mid-2020s, Zuby Ejiofor has been the driving force. Since teaming up with Pitino, Ejiofor has been near the top of the class in the Big East, leading the Johnnies to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances. After transferring from Kansas, Ejiofor was a late bloomer for St. John’s basketball, but it appears it was worth the wait.
In his senior season, Ejiofor took home Big East Player of the Year honors, as well as being named Defensive Player of the Year. While RJ Luis was an incredible player, it has been Ejiofor who has been the force of St. John’s and has brought them back to prominence. Ejiofor’s 25.8 Player Efficiency Rating also ranks number one in St. John’s history in Sports Reference’s database that goes back to 2011.
4. Walter Berry (1984-86)
20.1 PPG, 1 APG, 9.9 RPG, 58.1% FG
Starting at San Jacinto in Houston, Walter Berry transferred home to St. John’s, where he never looked back. Berry came in hot with the Johnnies, scoring 17 PPG in his first season and helping St. John’s to the Final Four. Teaming up with Mark Jackson and Chris Mullin, Walter Berry at times looked like the best player on the court. Following St. John’s loss the year before, Berry’s junior campaign was better than his sophomore season. He finished the season with 23 PPG, ranking him third in a single season in Red Storm history. That historic season also ranks first in total points scored in a single season.
When looking at Berry’s college career, his name does not immediately jump out at you, but when you realize he was the leading scorer on a team with Mullin and Jackson, you start to understand how good he was. Finishing with the John Wooden Award, as well as the USBWA College Player of the Year, Berry certainly deserves a spot on this list.
3. Mark Jackson (1983-87)
10.1 PPG, 5.6 APG, 2.6 RPG, 51% FG, 41.9% 3PT
Before Mark Jackson was filling up the stat sheets in the NBA, he was leading the charge for Lou Carnesecca and St. John’s basketball. Coming out of Brooklyn, Jackson immediately made an impact, starting 13 games in his freshman season. His breakout came in his junior season, though, as he upped his scoring numbers from 5.1 to 11.3 PPG, after Mullin’s departure. Finally, his senior season was the best, as Jackson put together averages of 18.9 PPG and 6.1 APG, finishing the season as a second-team All-American.
Jackson’s ability to control the offense as well as get the ball to the top scorers on the team proved to be the exact piece that St. John’s needed to make a deep tournament run. While basketball fans know Jackson as a pass-first player during his time in the NBA, he was able to put the ball in the hoop, especially in the aforementioned senior season. The 18.9 PPG certainly sticks out, but his quick adoption of the three-point line was huge for St. John’s. Making 42% of his three-point attempts.
2. Malik Sealy (1988-92)
18.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 49.4% FG, 24.7% 3PT
Out of the Bronx, Malik Sealy continued the strong tradition of stellar New York City basketball play, joining the Johnnies in 1988. While at St. John’s, Sealy electrified the city with his flair and incredible scoring ability. As it stands, Sealy ranks second on St. John’s all-time career scoring list and is just one of three players to finish his St. John’s career with 2,000 or more points. While Sealy’s scoring ability won many fans over, what may be more impressive was his ability to keep the Johnnies relevant after the departure of both Jackson and Chris Mullin.
Sealy’s ability to put the ball in would be the best in St. John’s history, if it weren’t for Mullin. Upping his scoring averages from 12.9 to 18.1 points in his sophomore season pales in comparison to his back-to-back 22 PPG seasons in his junior and senior years. Sealy was able to lead St. John’s to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and continued that success into the NBA, where he got drafted 14th overall by the Indiana Pacers. Passing away after getting hit by a drunk driver when he was 30, Sealy was taken from this world much too soon. Sealy will be remembered as one of the greatest scorers in St. John’s basketball history and as one of the game’s most dynamic players.
1. Chris Mullin (1981-85)
19.5 PPG, 3.6 APG, 4.1 APG, 55% FG
The undisputed GOAT of St. John’s basketball goes to the one and only Chris Mullin. Before he became the school’s all-time leading scorer, Mullin toured the New York City circuit, dominating every court that he stepped on. Recruited by Lou Carnesecca, Mullin immediately made an impact for the Johnnies. Mullin finished his freshman year starting all 30 games and pouring in 16.6 PPG on 53% from the field. Those scoring numbers jumped up to 19.1 PPG his sophomore year and a nation-leading 22.9 PPG scoring average his junior season. Those numbers dipped slightly to 19.8 PPG in his senior season, which, given his standards, seems like a disappointment, but to anyone else would be an incredible season.
Mullin finished his St. John’s basketball career as the all-time leading scorer at 2,440 points, a record that still stands to this day. Being named the USBWA Player of the Year in 1985, as well as a consensus All-American, Mullin will go down as one of the best players in college basketball history. On top of that, Mullin’s hardware also includes three Big East Player of the Year selections. His sweet lefty stroke, on top of an uncanny ability to make a shot in the biggest moments, Mullin is as big a New York icon in basketball as there ever will be.
