Diop has been linked to the Red Storm for weeks and is also considering Gonzaga after visiting the campus of the Bulldogs last weekend. He averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game last season with the Sun Devils while shooting 56.9-percent from the field. <\/p>\n
Some have projected him to be a potential first round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. <\/p>\n
After its season ended, head coach Rick Pitino told fans in a video that his coaching staff was \u201clooking strongly\u201d at 7-foot centers because the remaining teams in the Elite 8 had at least one major rim protector, something the Johnnies didn\u2019t have. <\/p>\n
Since entering the portal, Massamba Diop, who turned 21 years old in January, was considered one of the Top 10 players to transfer and one of the three best centers, which all have been linked to St. John\u2019s. <\/p>\n
The Red Storm hoped to get Kansas transfer Flory Bidunga on a visit, but he committed to Louisville on his first official visit and the program hosted Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam, who remains uncommitted. <\/p>\n
St. John\u2019s got a commitment from Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman earlier this week, ripping him away from Kentucky\u2019s grasp, without him visiting the campus and have been very active in the international market by landing British point guard Quinn Ellis, Montenegro native\u00a0Djordije Jovanovic, and Serbian 7-footer\u00a0Lazar Stojkovic.<\/p>\n
The Red Storm will return guards Ian Jackson and Lefteris Liotopolous as well as forward Ruben Prey next season. <\/p>\n
Yet the presence of Massamba Diop, a native of Senegal, could catapult the Johnnies into the favorite to win its third straight Big East championship as well as a Final Four contender. <\/p>\n
It will take a lot to get a commitment this weekend and could surely turn into a bidding war between the St. John\u2019s and Gonzaga but make no mistake about it, Massamba Diop is one of the most important transfers to visit the Red Storm in Rick Pitino\u2019s tenure as its head coach and will be treated as such by the coaching staff. <\/p>\n
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