Two St. John’s legends agree: Zuby Ejiofor has a bright future in the NBA.
Mark Jackson and Walter Berry, in attendance to see their alma mater win the Big East Tournament title for the second straight year, raved about the big man after top-seeded St. John’s 72-52 rout of No. 2 Connecticut at a sold-out Garden.
“Some people are saying, ‘Is he a pro?’ ” Jackson, the former Knicks point guard and Warriors head coach, said. “I look at them like they’re crazy. What he does on a nightly basis at St. John’s will absolutely translate to the next level. I’m excited about his next step. … He’ll be there and he’ll be there a long time.”
The 6-foot-9 Ejiofor was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament after finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds, seven blocks and three steals in the one-sided victory.
The Big East Player of the Year has done it all for the Johnnies throughout the season, and he continued that elite level of play over the past three days.
He averaged 19.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 3.0 assists in the tournament.
“He’s got numbers like I had,” joked Berry, the Big East Player of the Year in 1986, who was a first-round pick of the Trail Blazers. “He really played well tonight. I mean, seven blocks is incredible. That’s Hakeem Olajuwon-like,”
“Zuby is going to be a good pro,” Berry added. “He’s going to get to the NBA and do well. He showed tonight he belongs in the big leagues”
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Ejiofor is considered a likely draft pick, but most projections have him going early in the second round. Jackson believes he should go in the first round.
“I don’t think it — I know it,” Jackson said. “You pass him up and try to think too hard, you’ll make a mistake and regret it down the road. … He’s a no-brainer. However you decide to measure if he is capable or able, he’s no-brainer.
“What he’s done at St. John’s University has been absolutely historic. He’s a high-character, high-quality guy. His energy, effort and enthusiasm is contagious.”
