Yes, Brooklyn has other options including AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. But the St. John's star fits the Nets for multiple reasons.
The Brooklyn Nets are overhearing a neighboring basketball team galvanizing the Big Apple.
But it's not the rival New York Knicks. This team represents Queens and just punched their ticket into the Sweet 16 of March Madness.
St. John's is galvanizing the community behind Rick Pitino's coaching and his top scorer Zuby Ejiofor. In looking at the latter closely, here's why Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks and head coach Jordi Fernandez must look closer at the Red Storm star as a possible late round pick.
St. John's has versatile weapon in Ejiofor
In the two games Nets Roundtable was able to check out in March Madness, we locked in on the trust Pitino has for his 6-foot-9 talent.
The national title winner trusts Ejiofor in a multitude of ways.
First that sticks out is his post scoring, with Ejiofor's 235-pound frame withstanding the punishment down low. But Ejiofor throws his body and weight around like a fullback pushing through the goal line for the touchdown. Ejiofor is the one dishing out the pain toward opposing front courts.
His feet isn't the smoothest especially in spinning away from a defender. He's not a shot creator either. But Ejiofor is very blue collar when it comes to his scoring ability.
Next is Pitino allows Ejiofor to shoot from long range. This is a rare skill considering how Ejiofor is technically a center on the Red Storm roster. Yet he's one of the more reliable long range marksman on the Storm.
Finally, St. John's trusts Ejiofor to guard the team's best scorer. This became evident against Kansas superstar Darryn Peterson, who many across the basketball universe believe will land No. 1 come June in the NBA Draft.
But Ejiofor's long arms and physical frame helped bottle Peterson. The presence of the junior forced Peterson to settle more for 3-pointers and free throws as his points. St. John's contained him to only four points in the paint with Ejiofor helping lead the defensive charge.
How Ejiofor fits Nets
Hence why Ejiofor is already needed to stay home after his Red Storm career wraps up.
The first round should focus more on who can impact the franchise as a scorer. The second must pivot toward who brings a strong defensive skillset mixed with some reliable scoring if you're the Nets.
Ejiofor presents late first round, early second round value as of now. Granted, he can return to St. John's for his senior season and see if he can boost his personal stock for the 2027 NBA Draft. Or re-enter the transfer portal too (Ejiofor started with Kansas before transferring).
But his defense against Peterson plus knack for scoring at least 18 a night should convince the Nets to add some NY representation in the St. John's star.
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