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St. John’s March Madness Hero Dylan Darling Is Transferring
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- St. John’s March Madness Hero Dylan Darling Is Transferring
The man who sent St. John's to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 won't be offering any extra heroics to the Red Storm next season. He's hitting the transfer portal and will spend his final year elsewhere.
According to the New York Post , St. John's point guard Dylan Darling has entered the transfer portal as of today. The move came mere hours after the team managed to secure a commitment from Olimpia Milano star guard Quinn Ellis, who will presumably be the starter next season.
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Darling joined St. John's as a transfer from Idaho State, where he had been the top player in the Big Sky Conference in 2025. Upon joining the Red Storm, Darling became a top bench player, starting 15 of 35 games and averaging 6.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
A tournament for the ages
Darling had 18 minutes in the Round of 32 against Kansas and went 0-for-4 from outside the paint while contributing four assists, two steals and one rebound. However, as the clock expired he drove into the paint for a layup on his only two-point shot of the night and got it in as time expired, cementing a 67-65 win and his place in St. John's history.
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Unfortunately, Darling was not able to replicate that feat in the Sweet 16, going 3-of-7 and missing a crucial three-pointer against Duke in a 80-75 loss.
Darling will play the final year of his NCAA basketball career somewhere where he's perhaps more likely to be a starter. It's clear he wasn't part of Rick Pitino's plan for the 2026-27 season.
Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino reacts in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images© Amber Searls-Imagn Images.
As for Ellis, the man who will presumably be replacing Darling in the starting lineup next year, he's a 23-year-old from the United Kingdom who has been playing professionally in Italy since he was 16.
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In 2025 he won the LBA Best Young Player, Italian Cup MVP and Italian Supercup MVP honors.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Apr 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
