St. John's University Athletics
Zuby Ejiofor Named to Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Award Late-Season Team
2/19/2026 12:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
St. John’s forward is one of 30 players in consideration for nation’s top player
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's men's basketball senior Zuby Ejiofor was named to Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team, the organization announced on Thursday.
Ejiofor is one of 30 players recognized as being considered for the award, presented to the nation's top player. The Naismith Player of the Year honor will be presented during the NCAA Tournament Final Four in Indianapolis in early April. The big man was one of three players from the BIG EAST to make the list alongside UConn's Silas Demary Jr. and Alex Karaban.
After winning the BIG EAST's Most Improved Player award in 2024-25, Ejiofor has stepped up his game in his final collegiate season for the Johnnies. Ejiofor is averaging 16.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. The Garland, Texas native is the only player in high-major basketball to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and blocks.
The 6-foot-9 forward ranks top-10 in the BIG EAST in all four of the aforementioned statistical categories. Ejiofor is one of just two players in NCAA Division I to sit inside the top-10 in points, rebounds, assists and blocks per game in his respective conference, joined by Utah Valley's Jackson Holcombe. Additionally, Ejiofor ranks second in the league in field goal percentage shooting 53.0 percent from the floor.
In BIG EAST play, Ejiofor's numbers have been even better registering 17.3 points on 53.9 percent shooting, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.5 steals per contest. Ejiofor also ranks top-eight in the league in all five of those categories during conference competition.
The Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year has drawn the attention of opposition and his physical nature has catapulted him to one of the nation's most efficient players in getting to the charity stripe. Ejiofor ranks 15th in the country in free throw attempts (206) averaging 7.9 per game. The forward sits top-30 in NCAA Division I in makes from the line with 144 logging 5.5 per game. According to KenPom, Ejiofor checks in at 12th nationally in free throw rate. Earlier this season, he took 23 attempts from the stripe against Providence on Jan. 3, which ranks second most in a single-game in St. John's history.
Ejiofor has additionally stamped his name into the record books for his shot-blocking performances. The senior currently ranks ninth all-time with 136 career swats in three seasons in Queens. In December, the rim protector logged eight rejections in back-to-back games against Ole Miss (Dec. 6) and Iona (Dec. 13). Ejiofor became the first player since Obinni Anochili-Killen of Marshall did so in November of 2021 to record eight blocks in consecutive contests.
In his third year at St. John's, Ejiofor has increased his offensive production scoring in double-figures in 21 of 26 contests. He has posted seven 20-plus performances, a team-high five double-doubles and tied his career-best with 33 points against Providence on Jan. 3.
The accolades have been mounting for Ejiofor during his senior campaign. After becoming the first St. John's player to be named Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year since 2018, he has been named to the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Center of the Year Midseason Watch List, Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year Top-10 Watch List, two-time BIG EAST Player of the Week, NCAA March Madness Player of the Week and a five-time league weekly honor roll recipient.
Ejiofor and the No. 17/16 Red Storm will return to Madison Square Garden on Saturday to meet Creighton for a 12 p.m. tip-off on FOX.
Ejiofor is one of 30 players recognized as being considered for the award, presented to the nation's top player. The Naismith Player of the Year honor will be presented during the NCAA Tournament Final Four in Indianapolis in early April. The big man was one of three players from the BIG EAST to make the list alongside UConn's Silas Demary Jr. and Alex Karaban.
After winning the BIG EAST's Most Improved Player award in 2024-25, Ejiofor has stepped up his game in his final collegiate season for the Johnnies. Ejiofor is averaging 16.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. The Garland, Texas native is the only player in high-major basketball to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and blocks.
The 6-foot-9 forward ranks top-10 in the BIG EAST in all four of the aforementioned statistical categories. Ejiofor is one of just two players in NCAA Division I to sit inside the top-10 in points, rebounds, assists and blocks per game in his respective conference, joined by Utah Valley's Jackson Holcombe. Additionally, Ejiofor ranks second in the league in field goal percentage shooting 53.0 percent from the floor.
In BIG EAST play, Ejiofor's numbers have been even better registering 17.3 points on 53.9 percent shooting, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.5 steals per contest. Ejiofor also ranks top-eight in the league in all five of those categories during conference competition.
The Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year has drawn the attention of opposition and his physical nature has catapulted him to one of the nation's most efficient players in getting to the charity stripe. Ejiofor ranks 15th in the country in free throw attempts (206) averaging 7.9 per game. The forward sits top-30 in NCAA Division I in makes from the line with 144 logging 5.5 per game. According to KenPom, Ejiofor checks in at 12th nationally in free throw rate. Earlier this season, he took 23 attempts from the stripe against Providence on Jan. 3, which ranks second most in a single-game in St. John's history.
Ejiofor has additionally stamped his name into the record books for his shot-blocking performances. The senior currently ranks ninth all-time with 136 career swats in three seasons in Queens. In December, the rim protector logged eight rejections in back-to-back games against Ole Miss (Dec. 6) and Iona (Dec. 13). Ejiofor became the first player since Obinni Anochili-Killen of Marshall did so in November of 2021 to record eight blocks in consecutive contests.
In his third year at St. John's, Ejiofor has increased his offensive production scoring in double-figures in 21 of 26 contests. He has posted seven 20-plus performances, a team-high five double-doubles and tied his career-best with 33 points against Providence on Jan. 3.
The accolades have been mounting for Ejiofor during his senior campaign. After becoming the first St. John's player to be named Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year since 2018, he has been named to the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Center of the Year Midseason Watch List, Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year Top-10 Watch List, two-time BIG EAST Player of the Week, NCAA March Madness Player of the Week and a five-time league weekly honor roll recipient.
Ejiofor and the No. 17/16 Red Storm will return to Madison Square Garden on Saturday to meet Creighton for a 12 p.m. tip-off on FOX.
Players Mentioned
Forward
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