Joson Sanon couldn't pass up the opportunity to play for one of college basketball's most prestigious coaches. The star freshman announced Wednesday he would leave ASU to play for Rick Pitino at St. John's, per ESPN.
Sanon, a former top-25 recruit, said the opportunity to play for Pitino was what drew him to St. John's.
"Coach Pitino believes in me and my potential and what he can do for me," Sanon told ESPN. "He preaches working hard, and I want to show him I'm the hardest working player that's ever played for him. The way Coach P teaches defense is something I want to invest my time into."
Sanon showed plenty of potential during his freshman season at ASU. He averaged 11.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 27 games. Sanon improved as the season went on, averaging 18.8 points over his final five games.
His performance didn't help turn things around at ASU. After a promising start, in which the team went 8-1 in its first nine games, the Sun Devils collapsed the rest of the way, putting up a 3-15 record in their final 18 contests.
St. John's, meanwhile, went 31-5 and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. The team was upset by No. 10 seed Arkansas in the second round of the event, leading to a premature exit. The team will lose at least three starters ahead of the 2025-26 season, which could give Sanon a chance to compete for a starting role.
Prior to joining ASU, Sanon was a four-star recruit, and one of the best prospects in the nation. After receiving offers from a number of teams, he opted to attend ASU for his freshman season.
After a strong first season, Sanon will look to take his game to the next level under Pitino's tutelage.
