St. John's University Athletics
Joel Soriano Inks Exhibit 10 Contract with Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday
9/11/2024 9:40:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Former Red Storm center joins teammate Daniss Jenkins as second St. John’s player to sign an NBA contract this season
QUEENS, N.Y. – After shining for the St. John's men's basketball team over the last three seasons, Red Storm center Joel Soriano has signed an Exhibit 10 deal for a professional tryout with the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
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Soriano joins fellow teammate Daniss Jenkins from the 2023-24 squad as the second Johnnie under the direction of Naismith Hall of Fame Head Coach Rick Pitino to earn a professional contract with an NBA team. The second-year head coach has previously mentored 29 players who were drafted or played in the NBA.
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This past season, Soriano paced the Red Storm with 9.5 rebounds per contest to go with 13.8 points per game. The Yonkers, N.Y., native recorded 3.7 offensive boards per game, which ranked 11th in Division I. He also set career-highs shooting 57.7 percent from the field and registering 57 blocks. Soriano's 14 double-doubles were the second-highest total in the BIG EAST last season while his 1.7 blocks per game ranked third in the league.
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The 6-foot-11 center was instrumental in the Red Storm's first regular season sweep of Villanova since the 1992-93 season. Soriano led the team with 20 points and eight rebounds en route to the Red Storm's 81-71 triumph over the Wildcats on Jan. 6 at Finneran Pavilion. The Johnnies' big man followed the effort with a 21-point, nine-rebound performance nearly three weeks later, helping St. John's to a 70-50 victory over Villanova inside "The World's Most Famous Arena" on Jan. 24.
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Soriano finished his career as one of only six St. John's players to record 1,100 points and 800 rebounds in just three seasons with the program. The 2022-23 BIG EAST Most Improved Player and All-BIG EAST Second Team selection registered 40 double-doubles with the Red Storm.
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The former Red Storm standout also completed his career in Queens ranked seventh all-time in rebounding with 870 boards and 40th on the program's scoring chart with 1,150 points. He also sits third in program history shooting 57.0 percent from the field over his career, trailing only Walter Berry (1984-86, 58.1 pct) and Bill Wennington (1981-85, 57.9 pct).
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Soriano joins fellow teammate Daniss Jenkins from the 2023-24 squad as the second Johnnie under the direction of Naismith Hall of Fame Head Coach Rick Pitino to earn a professional contract with an NBA team. The second-year head coach has previously mentored 29 players who were drafted or played in the NBA.
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This past season, Soriano paced the Red Storm with 9.5 rebounds per contest to go with 13.8 points per game. The Yonkers, N.Y., native recorded 3.7 offensive boards per game, which ranked 11th in Division I. He also set career-highs shooting 57.7 percent from the field and registering 57 blocks. Soriano's 14 double-doubles were the second-highest total in the BIG EAST last season while his 1.7 blocks per game ranked third in the league.
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The 6-foot-11 center was instrumental in the Red Storm's first regular season sweep of Villanova since the 1992-93 season. Soriano led the team with 20 points and eight rebounds en route to the Red Storm's 81-71 triumph over the Wildcats on Jan. 6 at Finneran Pavilion. The Johnnies' big man followed the effort with a 21-point, nine-rebound performance nearly three weeks later, helping St. John's to a 70-50 victory over Villanova inside "The World's Most Famous Arena" on Jan. 24.
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Soriano finished his career as one of only six St. John's players to record 1,100 points and 800 rebounds in just three seasons with the program. The 2022-23 BIG EAST Most Improved Player and All-BIG EAST Second Team selection registered 40 double-doubles with the Red Storm.
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The former Red Storm standout also completed his career in Queens ranked seventh all-time in rebounding with 870 boards and 40th on the program's scoring chart with 1,150 points. He also sits third in program history shooting 57.0 percent from the field over his career, trailing only Walter Berry (1984-86, 58.1 pct) and Bill Wennington (1981-85, 57.9 pct).
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