St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Signs Gildas Gimenez
6/24/2026 11:40:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The two-time defending BIG EAST Champions add 6-foot-6 wing from Spain
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's men's basketball team added to its 2026-27 roster with the signing of Spanish wing Gildas Gimenez.
Gimenez arrives in Queens after helping lead CIA Bella Vista Prep (AZ) to the 2026 Chipotle Nationals Championship. The 6-foot-6 guard also brings international experience previously competing for European powerhouse club Real Madrid as well as Spanish youth national teams.
"We are very excited about the addition of Gildas," said St. John's Head Coach Rick Pitino. "He embodies all the qualities that we prioritize in our basketball program. Gildas adds depth to the wing position and will continue to develop with his tireless work ethic."
This past year Gimenez shined for CIA Bella Vista Prep, the nation's top high school program in 2025-26. He made 12 appearances as the Bears compiled a 26-4 overall record and captured the program's first Chipotle Nationals Championship. Bella Vista's roster featured seven four or five-star recruits according to 247Sports.
Gimenez joined Real Madrid's youth system in 2018 and has spent seven years with the club at all levels. He made his debut with the 11-time EuroLeague Champion First Team. In 45 appearances with Real Madrid B, Gimenez logged 6.8 points per outing from 2023-25.
The Spanish national has extensive experience with the youth national teams. Most recently, Gimenez recorded 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game over seven appearances for Spain at the 2025 U18 FIBA EuroBasket in Serbia. The year prior, he went for 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing at the FIBA U17 World Cup. Gimenez's first appearance with the Spanish youth national team was in 2016, when he averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in the 2024 FIBA U16 European Championship.
St. John's incoming recruiting class of 10 newcomers ranks top-five in the country for the second year in a row, according to ESPN and 247Sports. The class is highlighted by top-15 transfer portal prospects Tounde Yessofou (Baylor) and Donnie Freeman (Syracuse) along with European League standouts Quinn Ellis and Babacar Sane.
The Red Storm's 15-man roster will be filled with international flavor as 10 players hail from different countries on three separate continents. Gimenez becomes the third incoming freshman joining Lazar Sotjkovic and Theo Edema.
St. John's is coming off its first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 27 years and won the outright BIG EAST Regular Season Championship and tournament title for the second straight season.
To secure season tickets for the 2026-27 season place your deposit by clicking here or support the Red Storm Legacy Investment Fund.
Gimenez arrives in Queens after helping lead CIA Bella Vista Prep (AZ) to the 2026 Chipotle Nationals Championship. The 6-foot-6 guard also brings international experience previously competing for European powerhouse club Real Madrid as well as Spanish youth national teams.
"We are very excited about the addition of Gildas," said St. John's Head Coach Rick Pitino. "He embodies all the qualities that we prioritize in our basketball program. Gildas adds depth to the wing position and will continue to develop with his tireless work ethic."
This past year Gimenez shined for CIA Bella Vista Prep, the nation's top high school program in 2025-26. He made 12 appearances as the Bears compiled a 26-4 overall record and captured the program's first Chipotle Nationals Championship. Bella Vista's roster featured seven four or five-star recruits according to 247Sports.
Gimenez joined Real Madrid's youth system in 2018 and has spent seven years with the club at all levels. He made his debut with the 11-time EuroLeague Champion First Team. In 45 appearances with Real Madrid B, Gimenez logged 6.8 points per outing from 2023-25.
The Spanish national has extensive experience with the youth national teams. Most recently, Gimenez recorded 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game over seven appearances for Spain at the 2025 U18 FIBA EuroBasket in Serbia. The year prior, he went for 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing at the FIBA U17 World Cup. Gimenez's first appearance with the Spanish youth national team was in 2016, when he averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in the 2024 FIBA U16 European Championship.
St. John's incoming recruiting class of 10 newcomers ranks top-five in the country for the second year in a row, according to ESPN and 247Sports. The class is highlighted by top-15 transfer portal prospects Tounde Yessofou (Baylor) and Donnie Freeman (Syracuse) along with European League standouts Quinn Ellis and Babacar Sane.
The Red Storm's 15-man roster will be filled with international flavor as 10 players hail from different countries on three separate continents. Gimenez becomes the third incoming freshman joining Lazar Sotjkovic and Theo Edema.
St. John's is coming off its first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 27 years and won the outright BIG EAST Regular Season Championship and tournament title for the second straight season.
To secure season tickets for the 2026-27 season place your deposit by clicking here or support the Red Storm Legacy Investment Fund.
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