St. John’s duo prime candidates for Big East Player of the Year honors

The Big East is home to a plethora of talent at the D1 level of college basketball. Tarris Reed Jr. led UConn to an undefeated start to conference play, which helped them become the No. 2-ranked school in the country.

This lasted until Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins spearheaded No. 17 St. John’s to an improbable upset win over Dan Hurley’s Huskies.

With roughly two weeks left in the regular season, the 11 schools that make up the league are gearing up for the Big East Tournament taking place at Madison Square Garden from March 11 to March 14. But before the tournament gets underway, the conference will announce the Player of the Year and multiple other awards at its annual showcase in mid-March. Here are three potential candidates for player of the year honors.

Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s)

Standout prospect RJ Luis Jr. became the fifth player in St. John’s school history to win the Big East Player of the Year award last season when he added his name to the record books alongside NBA legend Chris Mullin and Walter Berry.

After winning the Most Improved Player of the Year last season, Ejiofor will look to follow in his former teammates’ footsteps. The senior big man has one of the strongest bids for the honor, considering he was named the Preseason Player of the Year.

His success on the court speaks for itself, as he has scored more than 10 points in his last eight appearances. Ejiofor set an NCAA record for recording eight blocks in consecutive games, on top of leading the Johnnies in points, assists, and blocks. This has come amidst the Red Storm’s record-tying 13-game win streak.

Tarris Reed Jr. (UConn)

UConn took a step back last season after winning consecutive national titles in 2023 and 2024. They came into this season with a sense of urgency to reclaim their place at the top of college basketball. An 18-game win streak put them back in contention with some of the top programs in the country.

Reed, the senior big man, played a pivotal role in the Huskies’ success. This includes a 20-point performance against Providence in a nail-biting overtime win.

But his production began to decline after losses to St. John’s and Creighton. A rematch with the Red Storm will allow him to make up for his lack of production in what should be a challenging matchup against Ejiofor.

Bryce Hopkins (St. John’s)

Ejiofor isn’t the only member of his team looking to become Big East Player of the Year. His teammate, Hopkins, has found success in his first season at St. John’s after missing last season with a torn ACL.

The former Providence Friar ended four consecutive games with at least 15 points. This came before he became the focal point of the Johnnies’ offense during multiple of their wins in conference play. His rebounding and scoring have given his team the edge on a handful of occasions.

For more on St. John’s, visit AMNY.com