INDIANAPOLIS — Add one other honor to Zuby Ejiofor’s memorable senior yr.
The St. John’s star was named the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner as the highest heart within the nation on Saturday, beating out Graham Ike of Gonzaga, Flory Bidunga of Kansas, Alex Condon of Florida and Henri Veesaar of North Carolina.
The 6-foot-9 Ejiofor had an outstanding remaining season at St. John’s, main the Johnnies to their first Candy 16 look since 1999 and guiding the Crimson Storm to an outright Massive East common season crown and Massive East Event title.
“I’m actually honored and grateful to be acknowledged with the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. To be related to the legacy of Kareem is an emblem of excellence, management, and significant influence past the sport is extremely humbling,” Ejiofor, the primary St. John’s participant to be each the Massive East Participant of the 12 months and Defensive Participant of the 12 months in the identical season, informed The Submit. “This recognition motivates me to proceed striving not just for success on the court docket, however to maintain making a constructive distinction within the lives of others.”
Ejiofor is the primary St. John’s participant to win the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award, which started in 2014-15.
He’s additionally certainly one of 4 finalists for the Naismith Defensive Participant of the 12 months award.
Ejiofor was the lone high-major participant within the nation to guide his workforce in scoring (16.3), rebounds (7.3), assists (3.5) and blocked photographs (2.1).
In six postseason video games, he averaged 18 factors, 8.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and three blocks.
The high-character Garland, Texas native transferred to St. John’s after one season at Kansas, and was instrumental within the Johnnies profitable 30 video games in back-to-back seasons.
Ejiofor was the face of the St. John’s program the final two seasons, rising as a pacesetter that coach Rick Pitino inherently trusted.
On the evening St. John’s clinched an everyday season title, Fox cameras caught Ejiofor imploring his teammates to defend and rebound on the finish of a timeout.
He seemed like a coach, capturing the eye of his teammates.
“You’re going to make me retire. I can’t dwell life with out you,” Pitino joked to Ejiofor on Feb. 6, the evening Ejiofor led St. John’s previous rival Connecticut.
The 2 had a particular bond.
Pitino has mentioned it’ll take a minimum of a number of folks to fill the void left by Ejiofor.
The star participant gained’t quickly neglect his coach, both.
“He actually modified my life lots,” Ejiofor mentioned on the day he was named the Massive East Participant of the 12 months. “He pushed me, he challenged me in so many alternative methods. I used to be by no means actually a talkative particular person earlier than Coach Pitino, and being below him you get to return out of your shell. He’s been in a position to change my entire perspective, not solely about basketball, however life on the whole.”
Another honor ought to be coming Ejiofor’s means.
He’s anticipated to be named the Haggerty Award winner, given to the world’s prime participant, when it’s introduced on Apr. 23.
Final yr’s winner was one other Johnnie, RJ Luis.
Ejiofor is projected to get drafted wherever from late within the first spherical to early within the second.
The final St. John’s participant to listen to his identify referred to as was Sir’Dominic Pointer (53rd general by the Cavaliers) in 2015.
