St. John’s men’s basketball is making some serious moves, with four-star Canadian recruit Godson Okokoh reportedly scheduling a visit to the Red Storm on November 6 and 7. This is a huge shift in strategy for Head Coach Rick Pitino, who is clearly intensifying his efforts on the high school recruiting trail after years of primarily working the transfer portal.
Pitino’s High School Push Gets Real
Look, Pitino’s known for his prowess in the transfer portal, right? But now, it looks like he’s going old school, putting a real focus on high school prospects for the class of 2027. Getting a talent like Okokoh on campus is a massive statement. We don’t know yet if Okokoh will catch St. John’s playing Iona at Madison Square Garden on November 8, but just getting him in town is huge. This isn’t their first big visit either, with five-star recruit Malachi Jordan hitting campus last week and even taking in their dominant 87-74 preseason finale win over Texas. It feels like Pitino is building something foundational here, not just patching holes.
Who Is Godson Okokoh?
So, who is this kid that’s got everyone talking? Godson Okokoh is a 6-foot-8 forward hailing from Ottawa, and he’s not just some unranked hopeful. He’s the 111th-ranked prospect in his class according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. This guy’s got game: he showed off his rim protection and inside scoring ability in the Nike EYBL Scholastic division and the Under Armour Circuit last season, plus he made a strong impression at the NBPA Top 100 camp this past summer. He’s set to play in this year’s Overtime Elite season with Bella Vista Prep, where they’ll be known as the City Reapers.
And get this, his only other visit this year was West Virginia on October 6, but his offer list is absolutely stacked: Kansas, Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Creighton, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Arizona State. That tells you everything you need to know about his talent level. The biggest feather in his cap, though? Okokoh helped Canada pull off a shocking upset over the United States to win their first-ever FIBA U18 AmeriCup gold medal. He averaged 9.0 points and 5.4 rebounds over five games, and he led his team with eight boards in that championship final. The kid’s a winner on the international stage.
St. John’s is getting ready to kick off their season opener against Monmouth on Monday, November 2, at Carnesecca Arena. That tips off at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+. But while the team preps for game one, the groundwork being laid for the future with recruits like Okokoh could be what truly defines this era for the Red Storm.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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