St. John's is going to have to replace its entire frontcourt in the spring, but it is expecting to return one of its most talented players.
Coach Rick Pitino is confident sophomore guard Joson Sanon will return, he told The Post.
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"I think he's definitely coming back," Pitino said. "Like Zuby [Ejiofor], he's here to make it, and he's not looking to go anywhere."
The 6-foot-5 Sanon is coming off one of his best games as a Johnnie, a 15-point, six-rebound effort in a come-from-behind win over Georgetown .
An Arizona State transfer, Sanon is averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and shooting 35.2 percent from 3-point range.
"With what he's learning this year, I think he can be great," Pitino said. "He's got stardom ahead of him. I think he's going to be a big-time scorer. He's learning to play defense, rebound, do other things. He can be a 28- [to] 30-minute-a-game player and somebody who's great at two different positions [next year]."
St. John's Red Storm guard Joson Sanon puts up a shot over Butler Bulldogs forward Michael Ajayi. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Pitino said he met with Sanon before the Georgetown game for a half-hour, and had a long talk with him about needing to be more than just a scorer.
"I said, 'The reason you're not on draft boards is not because you're shooting a low percentage.' A pro scout said to me, 'Yeah, he looks to score, he's a one-dimensional guy,' " Pitino said. "[I told him], 'Not until the last game when you grabbed six rebounds and did other things in the game did people say, you're more than just a scorer.'
" 'If you want to be just a one-dimensional basketball player, you're never going to play a day in the NBA. But you are our most talented, gifted basketball player on this team. You have the most skills.' "
On Tuesday, Sanon began to show off some of that talent.
