St. John’s Announces NYC Hoops for Heroes Classic Benefitting Tunnel to Towers Foundation

10/18/2024 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

The Red Storm men’s basketball program to partner with charity benefiting first responders and veterans during Nov. 17 contest against New Mexico

QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's men's basketball program has announced the NYC Hoops for Heroes Classic on Friday that will benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The inaugural event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 17 when the Red Storm hosts New Mexico for its season debut at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. for a nationally televised contest on FS1 live from Midtown.

Inspired by like-minded missions, St. John's and Tunnel to Towers Foundation have joined forces to support first responders and veteran families in need through this first-ever event. A portion of ticket sales and merchandise proceeds will be donated to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which is committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America "Never Forget" the tragedies of September 11, 2001.

"We are super excited to be part of the Tunnel to Towers game featuring St. John's and New Mexico," said St. John's Head Coach Rick Pitino. "It means so much to me personally as well as my son Richard to represent such a great organization. Super psyched for a great game."

Born from the tragedy of 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation strives to "do good" by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families and by building specifically adapted smart homes for those catastrophically injured.

"We are thrilled to partner with the St. John's men's basketball team for this exciting event," said Tunnel to Towers Chairman & CEO Frank Siller. "The program's commitment to supporting first responders and military families is a powerful testament to community spirit and will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who serve and protect us."

Pitino enters his second season in Queens, aiming to build upon a 20-win campaign that included 11 BIG EAST victories, which marked the program's most conference wins since the 2010-11 season. The Red Storm won six of its final seven games and advanced to the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2000.

St. John's brings back five letterwinners including co-captain Zuby Ejiofor, who appeared in all 33 games during his first season in Queens, as well as the team's top returning scorer and rebounder RJ Luis Jr. (10.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg). 2024 All-BIG EAST First Team selection and fellow co-captain Kadary Richmond highlights a talented group of eight newcomers who have joined the Johnnies for the 2024-25 campaign.

Led by Richard Pitino, son of the Red Storm's Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach, New Mexico is the reigning Mountain West tournament champion and earned a bid to the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Coming off a 26-win campaign, the Lobos return 2024 Second Team All-Mountain West selection Donovan Dent, who averaged 14.1 points and 5.4 assists per contest last season.

To learn more about Tunnel to Towers Foundation visit T2T.org or follow on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

St. John's Basketball season ticket packages and individual game tickets are on sale now at RedStormTix.com. For more information, contact the Red Storm Ticket Office at 1-888-GO-STORM or by emailing RedStormSports@stjohns.edu.