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St. John’s Announces Big Transfer Portal News on Saturday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Apr 26, 2025 9:42 PM ET

After a 31-win season under Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, St. John’s men’s basketball continued its offseason overhaul by securing the commitment of Dylan Darling.

Darling, a 6-foot-1 true point guard, was the 2025 Big Sky Player of the Year from Idaho State and one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal.

St. John’s went 18-2 in Big East play and captured both the regular-season and tournament crowns, marking the program’s first conference regular-season title since 1992.

On Saturday, St. John's X account officially welcomed Darling to the program with the caption, "The newest Johnnie ✍️ Welcome to the Red Storm, Dylan! ⛈️"

The newest Johnnie ✍️

Welcome to the Red Storm, Dylan! ⛈️

️: https://t.co/p1oQxm4cqo pic.twitter.com/VjByNDSpSJ
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) April 26, 2025

Darling arrives in Queens off a standout season in which he averaged 19.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals in 28 starts for the Bengals, transforming Idaho State's offense and earning First-team All-Big Sky recognition.

He initially committed to Washington State in 2022, but transferred to Idaho State in 2024 after receiving limited playing time.

With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Darling gives Pitino a true floor general for the foreseeable future.

The Red Storm earned a No. 2 seed in March Madness, notching a convincing 83-53 win over Omaha before bowing out to Arkansas in the Round of 32.

That performance was still good enough to earn Pitino AP Coach of the Year and Big East Coach of the Year honors.

As the transfer portal frenzy winds down, St. John’s has positioned itself as the team to beat in the Big East—and a dark-horse for a deep NCAA Tournament run in 2026.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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