Rick Pitino is signaling a strategic shift in his recruitment philosophy, moving beyond the transfer portal to aggressively target top-tier high school talent. According to LeagueReady’s Sam Kayser, four-star Canadian forward Godson Okokoh is scheduled to visit St. John’s on November 6 and 7. The visit coincides with the Red Storm’s upcoming matchup against Iona at Madison Square Garden on November 8, though it remains unconfirmed whether Okokoh will attend the game. This move marks a significant step for the program, which has historically relied heavily on immediate impact transfers rather than long-term high school development.
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Okokoh, a 6-foot-8 prospect from Ottawa, currently ranks 111th in the 2027 class via 247Sports’ composite rankings. He is set to compete in the Overtime Elite season with Bella Vista Prep, competing under the City Reapers banner. The forward has already demonstrated elite rim protection and inside scoring ability, standing out in the Nike EYBL Scholastic division and the Under Armour Circuit last season. Additionally, he made a strong impression at this summer’s NBPA Top 100 camp, further validating his status as a high-upside interior presence for any major conference program.
As Okokoh navigates his recruitment, he has limited his on-campus visits to just one other school, West Virginia, on October 6. He holds offers from a deep roster of Big Ten and Big 12 powerhouses, including Kansas, Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Creighton, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, and Arizona State. His recent international success, including helping Canada secure a shocking upset earlier this year, adds significant weight to his profile. For St. John’s, landing a prospect of this caliber would represent a major win in Pitino’s renewed focus on building a sustainable, multi-year roster through the high school pipeline.
Source: Yahoo Sports
