St. John's University Athletics
PREGAME QUOTES: ST. JOHN’S VS. GEORGETOWN
St. John’s Men’s Basketball’s Head Coach Rick Pitino, forward Zuby Ejiofor and guard/forward Bryce Hopkins spoke with the media ahead of the Red Storm’s matchup with Georgetown on Tuesday at MSG
Head Coach Rick Pitino
On how Zuby Ejiofor has impacted the St. John’s Basketball culture…
“Just everything about him. [It’s] never about Zuby, always about St. John’s, always about the team, never about himself, always about winning, never moody, always disappointed when things don’t go well but willing to fight through it.”
On what interested him in Zuby Ejiofor…
“Well, he had a great reputation coming out of high school. He had a very good vertical. We knew he was tough. He just wasn’t offensively gifted at that point because he didn’t show anything. He wasn’t a very good passer, didn’t have great hands, didn’t really shoot it well. Everything that Bill [Self] said was true, but I think that’s true of Gorgei Dieng when he was a freshman, and he played in the pros for 10, 11 years.”
On Zuby Ejiofor’s first workout for St. John’s…
“Zuby went through the workout as if it was going to be his last workout ever, and that’s what you’re looking for in a workout.”
On how he believes Zuby Ejiofor will develop in the NBA…
“I think he’ll get better and better. If you notice, our guys that are performing, [Daniss] Jenkins makes the [Detroit] Pistons, Kadary [Richmond] gets moved up [to the Washington Wizards]. Deivon Smith last night had a triple double. I think our guys are built to last because of their work ethic.”
Senior forward Zuby Ejiofor
On why he chose St. John’s…
“When I first came in, the coaching staff did a great job of making me feel like I’m home. Coach Pitino ended up putting me through a workout. I loved everything about it and everything that he stood for. I saw the vision of what he was trying to build here at St. John’s and just to see everything come to fruition is kind of bittersweet. But that’s why I came here.”
If he expects to be emotional on Senior Night…
“I have no clue. If you ask all the guys in the locker room, they’re all saying I would cry. So no, I’m definitely not crying.”
On Senior Night…
“I know it’s going to be emotional. My family is going to be there. It’s a special moment. It’s not actually the last time I’m playing at [Madison Square Garden] but it’s going to be a bittersweet moment, just seeing my teammates out there as well.”
Graduate student guard/forward Bryce Hopkins
On celebrating Senior Night at St. John’s…
“I’m blessed, first of all. To be here and play for Coach Pitino and play with the guys and my teammates and stuff like that. … I’m blessed to be healthy and on the court playing again. Like Zuby [Ejiofor] said, [this is] my last go-around in college basketball. I’m glad to be doing it here.”
On what Senior Day at St. John’s will mean to him…
“I feel like St. John’s embraced me the first day I stepped on campus and put the uniform on. Just playing in front of [the fans] on senior day is going to mean a lot to me.”
On why he chose St. John’s…
“My ultimate reason why I decided to come here was I wanted to be pushed my last year. I wanted to play for somebody who was a proven winner and make my last go-around memorable and have a chance to fight for something big in March and go on a deep run. That was my ultimate reason. Playing on a bigger stage, playing at [Madison Square Garden], that played a big part into it as well.”
On Zuby Ejiofor’s pre-game speeches…
“Zuby gets us going before every game.”
On how Zuby Ejiofor has impacted the St. John’s Basketball culture…
“Just everything about him. [It’s] never about Zuby, always about St. John’s, always about the team, never about himself, always about winning, never moody, always disappointed when things don’t go well but willing to fight through it.”
On what interested him in Zuby Ejiofor…
“Well, he had a great reputation coming out of high school. He had a very good vertical. We knew he was tough. He just wasn’t offensively gifted at that point because he didn’t show anything. He wasn’t a very good passer, didn’t have great hands, didn’t really shoot it well. Everything that Bill [Self] said was true, but I think that’s true of Gorgei Dieng when he was a freshman, and he played in the pros for 10, 11 years.”
On Zuby Ejiofor’s first workout for St. John’s…
“Zuby went through the workout as if it was going to be his last workout ever, and that’s what you’re looking for in a workout.”
On how he believes Zuby Ejiofor will develop in the NBA…
“I think he’ll get better and better. If you notice, our guys that are performing, [Daniss] Jenkins makes the [Detroit] Pistons, Kadary [Richmond] gets moved up [to the Washington Wizards]. Deivon Smith last night had a triple double. I think our guys are built to last because of their work ethic.”
Senior forward Zuby Ejiofor
On why he chose St. John’s…
“When I first came in, the coaching staff did a great job of making me feel like I’m home. Coach Pitino ended up putting me through a workout. I loved everything about it and everything that he stood for. I saw the vision of what he was trying to build here at St. John’s and just to see everything come to fruition is kind of bittersweet. But that’s why I came here.”
If he expects to be emotional on Senior Night…
“I have no clue. If you ask all the guys in the locker room, they’re all saying I would cry. So no, I’m definitely not crying.”
On Senior Night…
“I know it’s going to be emotional. My family is going to be there. It’s a special moment. It’s not actually the last time I’m playing at [Madison Square Garden] but it’s going to be a bittersweet moment, just seeing my teammates out there as well.”
Graduate student guard/forward Bryce Hopkins
On celebrating Senior Night at St. John’s…
“I’m blessed, first of all. To be here and play for Coach Pitino and play with the guys and my teammates and stuff like that. … I’m blessed to be healthy and on the court playing again. Like Zuby [Ejiofor] said, [this is] my last go-around in college basketball. I’m glad to be doing it here.”
On what Senior Day at St. John’s will mean to him…
“I feel like St. John’s embraced me the first day I stepped on campus and put the uniform on. Just playing in front of [the fans] on senior day is going to mean a lot to me.”
On why he chose St. John’s…
“My ultimate reason why I decided to come here was I wanted to be pushed my last year. I wanted to play for somebody who was a proven winner and make my last go-around memorable and have a chance to fight for something big in March and go on a deep run. That was my ultimate reason. Playing on a bigger stage, playing at [Madison Square Garden], that played a big part into it as well.”
On Zuby Ejiofor’s pre-game speeches…
“Zuby gets us going before every game.”