St. John's University Athletics
Bryce Hopkins Chosen by the Denver Nuggets in the 2026 NBA Draft
6/24/2026 9:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Hopkins becomes third St. John’s player to be selected in the NBA Draft
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – For the first time since 1983, three St. John's men's basketball players have been drafted in the same season, as Bryce Hopkins was chosen by the with the 49th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Hopkins joins frontcourt teammates Zuby Ejiofor (23rd, Atlanta) and Dillon Mitchell (40th, Boston) as draft selections, marking the first time in 43 years that the Johnnies have had three or more players hear their names called in the same season. In 1983, David Russell, Kevin Williams, Billy Goodwin and Bob Kelly were all selected. It is also the first time in program history that three Johnnies have been drafted in the first two rounds.
Hopkins becomes the 65th draft pick in St. John's Men's Basketball history and the 34th player to be drafted after being coached by Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. The wing's selection marks the first time that Pitino has had three players chosen in the same NBA Draft since his 1996 National Champion Kentucky squad.
The Oak Park, Ill., native spent his final collegiate season in Queens, guiding the Red Storm to a second straight sweep of the BIG EAST Tournament and Regular Season Championships. The Johnnies then advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.
Hopkins started all 37 games averaging 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, both ranked in the top 15 of the BIG EAST. Additionally, he ranked fifth in the league in made free throws with 127.
The graduate student posted 26 double-digit scoring outings, five 20-plus point performances and three double-doubles. The veteran rose to the occasion during the postseason, reaching double figures in the final seven games of the season. The BIG EAST All-Tournament Team honoree averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 boards per game during the Red Storm's run to its fifth BIG EAST Tournament crown. In the NCAA Tournament Second Round victory over fourth-seeded Kansas, the wing was on fire from deep, knocking down a program-tournament-record six 3-pointers to finish with a team-high 18 points.
Hopkins racked up plenty of accolades during his final collegiate go-around, landing on the All-BIG EAST Second Team after leading the Johnnies to an 18-2 record. Additionally, he was a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Second Team, All-MET First Team, NABC All-District Team and a CSC All-District selection.
Prior to St. John's, Hopkins spent three seasons at Providence, where he started all 50 of his appearances and averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game from 2022-25. The wing battled injuries during his final two years with the Friars after having his best season in the Ocean State in 2022-23, when he logged 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and was an All-BIG EAST First Team honoree. Hopkins began his collegiate career at Kentucky in 2021-22, appearing in 28 games on a Wildcats team that was a no. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Hopkins joins frontcourt teammates Zuby Ejiofor (23rd, Atlanta) and Dillon Mitchell (40th, Boston) as draft selections, marking the first time in 43 years that the Johnnies have had three or more players hear their names called in the same season. In 1983, David Russell, Kevin Williams, Billy Goodwin and Bob Kelly were all selected. It is also the first time in program history that three Johnnies have been drafted in the first two rounds.
Hopkins becomes the 65th draft pick in St. John's Men's Basketball history and the 34th player to be drafted after being coached by Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. The wing's selection marks the first time that Pitino has had three players chosen in the same NBA Draft since his 1996 National Champion Kentucky squad.
The Oak Park, Ill., native spent his final collegiate season in Queens, guiding the Red Storm to a second straight sweep of the BIG EAST Tournament and Regular Season Championships. The Johnnies then advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.
Hopkins started all 37 games averaging 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, both ranked in the top 15 of the BIG EAST. Additionally, he ranked fifth in the league in made free throws with 127.
The graduate student posted 26 double-digit scoring outings, five 20-plus point performances and three double-doubles. The veteran rose to the occasion during the postseason, reaching double figures in the final seven games of the season. The BIG EAST All-Tournament Team honoree averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 boards per game during the Red Storm's run to its fifth BIG EAST Tournament crown. In the NCAA Tournament Second Round victory over fourth-seeded Kansas, the wing was on fire from deep, knocking down a program-tournament-record six 3-pointers to finish with a team-high 18 points.
Hopkins racked up plenty of accolades during his final collegiate go-around, landing on the All-BIG EAST Second Team after leading the Johnnies to an 18-2 record. Additionally, he was a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Second Team, All-MET First Team, NABC All-District Team and a CSC All-District selection.
Prior to St. John's, Hopkins spent three seasons at Providence, where he started all 50 of his appearances and averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game from 2022-25. The wing battled injuries during his final two years with the Friars after having his best season in the Ocean State in 2022-23, when he logged 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and was an All-BIG EAST First Team honoree. Hopkins began his collegiate career at Kentucky in 2021-22, appearing in 28 games on a Wildcats team that was a no. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
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