Rick Pitino’s arrival at St. John’s has sparked a revival in Queens, and his former assistant, Kevin Willard, is taking notice. As the Red Storm prepares for a significant 2025-26 season, Willard, now head coach at Villanova, recently shared insights on Pitino’s high-energy approach and old-school style.

With a roster sending multiple players to the NBA Summer League, the program’s resurgence under Pitino shows great promise for returning to the top.

Rick Pitino And St John’s Is The Perfect Marriage, According to Kevin Willard

On the Field of 68: After Dark podcast, Willard reflected on facing his former mentor. “I love the fact that we are going against each other now… the best thing about Rick Pitino is that he has an energy that is unmatched,” Willard said.

“I think St. John’s is so perfect because he brings the same energy that he had in the New York Knicks.” He praised the synergy between Pitino and the program, “If you are not working, if you are not matching his energy, you will quickly find out about it. I think the job he has done for St. John’s and the opportunity that St. John’s gave him is the perfect marriage.”

Pitino’s impact is very evident in St John’s recent upward momentum. He’s instilled a relentless work ethic, demanding players match his intensity. Willard noted a return to the program’s roots, saying, “He has gone back a little old school. Like they are playing defense really really physical. It matches what St. John’s was back in the day, physical, tough, hardened.”

This rugged, defensive-minded approach is what made St. John’s a force back in the day, and Pitino’s strategy to go back to the roots shows that the program is once again back on track to be one of the top contenders, according to Willard.

St. John’s newfound relevance extends beyond college hoops. Despite no players being selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, four draft-eligible Johnnies, RJ Luis, Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott, and Deivon Smith, secured Summer League deals.

Luis, the Big East Player of the Year, signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz but has been sidelined by knee soreness. Richmond joined the Washington Wizards, Scott the Boston Celtics, and Smith the Atlanta Hawks, all set to debut in Las Vegas in the NBA summer league.

Daniss Jenkins, a G-League All-Rookie with the Motor City Cruise, is back with the Detroit Pistons’ Summer League squad, aiming for a full-time NBA role after seven games with the parent club. Even Chris Ledlum, from Pitino’s first St. John’s team, earned a spot with the Houston Rockets following a stint in France.

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This recent success in St. John’s pipeline to pros under Pitino further makes the program a hot landing zone for the nation’s best.