St. John's University Athletics
Zuby Ejiofor Named to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Midseason Watch List
2/6/2026 1:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
St. John’s senior recognized as one of the top 10 centers in the country
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's men's basketball standout Zuby Ejiofor was named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Midseason Watch List presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Ejiofor was one of 10 centers from across the country recognized by the organization. Fan voting for the award will begin today, to cast your vote click here. Five finalists for the honor will be unveiled for the honor in mid-March before the winner is unveiled ahead of the 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four in Indianapolis.
Ejiofor is one of two players from the BIG EAST to land on the list alongside Tarris Reed Jr. of UConn. He becomes the first St. John's player to be named a top-10 candidate for the honor since Joel Soriano in 2024.
After last year's breakout campaign, where Ejiofor was tabbed the BIG EAST's Most Improved Player, the big man has lived up to the billing during the senior campaign. The Garland, Texas native was tabbed the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, the program's second since 1992. Through 22 games, the senior leads the Red Storm in scoring (15.7 PPG), rebounding (7.5 PPG), assists (3.3 APG) and blocks (2.0).
Ejiofor has posted 17 double-digit scoring efforts, five 20-plus point performances and four double-doubles. The veteran pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds against Providence (Jan. 3) and became the first player in NCAA Division I to record eight blocks in back-to-back games since November 2021.
On Tuesday, Ejiofor became the 54th player in St. John's men's basketball history to reach 1,000 career points after knocking down a 3-pointer at DePaul. The former Kansas transfer further cemented himself in the program's record books moving into 10th all-time in career blocks (129) and took 23 free throw attempts against the Friars, which ranks the second-most ever in a single-game.
Ejiofor has racked up various weekly honors throughout the campaign. He has twice been named BIG EAST Player of the Week and earned a spot on the league's weekly honor roll four times. On Jan. 29, he was named to the Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year Midseason Watch List.
Ejiofor and the Red Storm will be back in action tonight when No. 22/22 St. John's battles No. 3/3 UConn at Madison Square Garden on FOX.
Ejiofor was one of 10 centers from across the country recognized by the organization. Fan voting for the award will begin today, to cast your vote click here. Five finalists for the honor will be unveiled for the honor in mid-March before the winner is unveiled ahead of the 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four in Indianapolis.
Ejiofor is one of two players from the BIG EAST to land on the list alongside Tarris Reed Jr. of UConn. He becomes the first St. John's player to be named a top-10 candidate for the honor since Joel Soriano in 2024.
After last year's breakout campaign, where Ejiofor was tabbed the BIG EAST's Most Improved Player, the big man has lived up to the billing during the senior campaign. The Garland, Texas native was tabbed the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, the program's second since 1992. Through 22 games, the senior leads the Red Storm in scoring (15.7 PPG), rebounding (7.5 PPG), assists (3.3 APG) and blocks (2.0).
Ejiofor has posted 17 double-digit scoring efforts, five 20-plus point performances and four double-doubles. The veteran pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds against Providence (Jan. 3) and became the first player in NCAA Division I to record eight blocks in back-to-back games since November 2021.
On Tuesday, Ejiofor became the 54th player in St. John's men's basketball history to reach 1,000 career points after knocking down a 3-pointer at DePaul. The former Kansas transfer further cemented himself in the program's record books moving into 10th all-time in career blocks (129) and took 23 free throw attempts against the Friars, which ranks the second-most ever in a single-game.
Ejiofor has racked up various weekly honors throughout the campaign. He has twice been named BIG EAST Player of the Week and earned a spot on the league's weekly honor roll four times. On Jan. 29, he was named to the Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year Midseason Watch List.
Ejiofor and the Red Storm will be back in action tonight when No. 22/22 St. John's battles No. 3/3 UConn at Madison Square Garden on FOX.
Players Mentioned
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