The eventful offseason for St. John’s continues. For the fifth time in three weeks, the Red Storm have utilized the transfer portal, adding former Columbia guard Avery Brown, first reported by Jon Rothstein. Brown has always been on the Johnnies radar, offering him a scholarship back in 2022 when he was still in high school. 

The move for Brown fills an essential need, a backup point guard. Brown is a “pure” point guard known for his exceptional vision and ability to lead an offense. In high school, he set a single-game record with 17 assists, demonstrating the high-level distribution skills that Rick Pitino’s system requires. He views himself as having some of the “best vision in the country,” backed by a rigorous film-study routine to sharpen his in-game IQ.

Although Brown appeared in just three games this past season due to entering the portal early, the PG found himself in a strong role for the 2024-25 season, playing in 27 minutes per game while averaging 11 points with two assists, shooting 38% from the field. 

The St. John’s roster is close to finalized, with one glaring hole remaining — the center position. St. John’s took a deep-range shot when going after Flory Bidunga, who ultimately chose Louisville.