College basketball coaches get close to some players during their time together. In fact, Senior Night can be an emotional one for both the coach and the player. That was the case on Tuesday night as St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino shared a moment with senior forward Zuby Ejiofor.
Ejiofor was playing his last regular-season game for the Red Storm at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City, where St. John’s plays its home games.
Rick Pitino, Zuby Ejiofor Share Tender Moment for St. John’s
Before the Red Storm tipped off Tuesday night’s Big East Conference game against the Georgetown Hoyas, Pitino went out on the court and introduced his seniors.
When Ejiofor came out, though, Pitino couldn’t keep his emotions in check. John Fanta, a broadcaster for NBC Sports, shared a clip of Pitino announcing Ejiofor to the packed house at the Garden. Once Pitino embraced Ejiofor, he could be seen wiping away tears from his eyes.
Rick Pitino in tears as he introduces Zuby Ejiofor ahead of the St. John’s superstar’s Senior Night. What college basketball is all about: pic.twitter.com/DpLNdRiFhp
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 3, 2026
“Rick Pitino in tears as he introduces Zuby Ejiofor ahead of the St. John’s superstar’s Senior Night,” Fanta wrote in his post on X. “What college basketball is all about.”
After this emotional moment, Ejiofor went out and rallied the Red Storm back from a 34-26 halftime deficit to the Hoyas. On the night, Ejiofor scored 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the floor. He also had 7 rebounds and 5 assists as No. 18-ranked St. John’s posted a 72-69 win over Georgetown.
The Red Storm outscored the Hoyas 46-35 in the second half. With the victory, St. John’s is now 24-6 overall, 17-2 in Big East play, and tied with the UConn Huskies for the lead in the Big East Conference.
For the 2025-26 regular season, Ejiofor is averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, and shooting 53.0% from the floor. With this being Ejiofor’s last season with St. John’s, it’s possible that he’d get a look from NBA scouts before the 2026 NBA Draft takes place later this year.
The Red Storm are averaging 82.6 points per game on offense but allowing just 70.8 points per game on defense. Pitino, Ejiofor, and St. John’s have their next game on Friday night against Seton Hall on the road. Then, Pitino and the Red Storm will start turning their attention toward the Big East Tournament.
