A major recruiting win for the Red Storm
St. John's has landed a commitment from one of the most highly regarded players in the 2027 high school class, giving head coach Rick Pitino his strongest recruiting coup since taking over the program.
Malachi Jordan, a senior at Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., announced his decision Tuesday. The 6-foot-7 forward selected the Red Storm over Kansas and Vanderbilt, two other finalists in a recruitment that also included visits to Southern California, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Alabama.
Jordan is ranked No. 20 nationally in the 247Sports composite, along with sixth among small forwards and eighth among players in Florida. His commitment makes him the highest-ranked recruit secured by Pitino since he became St. John's head coach in March 2023, according to the supplied recruiting report.
| Jordan's profile | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward |
| Height | 6 feet 7 inches |
| Class | 2027 |
| 247Sports composite | No. 20 nationally |
| Nike EYBL averages | 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists |
Why Jordan chose St. John's
Jordan told ESPN that Pitino's record of developing players was central to his decision. He said the coach did not make grand promises beyond helping him reach his full ability, a message Jordan viewed as credible after spending time around the program.
“Coach Pitino has a rich history of developing players. The only promise he made was that he'd help me reach my full potential.”
Jordan visited St. John's on Oct. 23 and attended the Red Storm's exhibition game against Texas on Oct. 25, when St. John's recorded a dominant victory over the No. 7-ranked Longhorns. He described the team's practices as demanding and said he understood Pitino's intensity as part of the coach's effort to improve both the player and the group.
- Jordan chose St. John's over Kansas and Vanderbilt.
- He is rated a five-star prospect and one of the top 20 players in his class.
- He averaged 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit.
A shift in recruiting emphasis
The commitment also signals a notable turn in Pitino's roster-building approach. During his first seasons with St. John's, the coach placed considerable emphasis on the NCAA transfer portal, where older players could provide immediate experience. Many of his first-year additions came from Europe, while this season's incoming group included 6-foot-11 centre Theo Edema.
Pitino said in an Oct. 23 news conference that possible changes to transfer rules could make high school recruiting more important. If players are given fewer opportunities to move between schools, the long-term value of recruiting elite teenagers may increase. Pitino said he could see St. John's taking three high school players in the following year.
Jordan's decision gives that evolving strategy a high-profile beginning. He arrives with production against strong youth competition, a silver medal from the 2026 FIBA Men's U18 AmeriCup in Leon, Mexico, and a national ranking that places him among the most closely watched prospects in his class. For St. John's, the commitment is a bet on both Jordan's potential and Pitino's ability to turn that potential into a college-level contribution when the player reaches the program.
