Rick Pitino has been a big-time player in the transfer portal during his tenure as Red Storm head coach, yet he hasn’t been known to rock the boat in the high school recruiting waters. That all changed on Tuesday morning.
Class of 2027 five-star recruit Malachi Jordan has committed to St. John’s, according to multiple reports. Jordan is rated as the 20th-best prospect and the sixth-best small forward in his class by 247Sports’ composite rankings and is the Red Storm’s highest-ranked high school signing
in program history by the outlet’s recruiting metrics.
The Prolific Prep product chose the Red Storm from a final three that included Vanderbilt and Kansas, and he also held offers from Tennessee, USC, and Washington.
Jordan then announced his decision with a video posted on his social media accounts. At the end of the two-minute video, the prized recruit expressed how he wanted Rick Pitino to challenge him to become a better player.
“I really need a coach who’s going to develop me, who’s going to push me every single day, be relentless with me, and honest with me,” Jordan says in his announcement video.
The 6-foot-7, 225-pound small forward from Nashville, Tennessee is regarded as one of the most athletically gifted prospects in his class. Jordan reportedly has a 6-foot-11 wingspan and boasts explosive vertical skills.
“For Jordan, it’s all about playing in the flow, Adam Finkelstein, 247Sports’ director of scouting, wrote in his evaluation of Jordan,“ When he’s not trying to do too much, he has enough touch to make open rhythm shots, be a straight-line downhill driver, and even an underrated passer.”
Although Jordan’s physical skills are apparent, he still needs to refine his approach to the game, as he has a tendency to play out of rhythm.
“[Jordan] is also a violent finisher and lob threat whenever he can get to two feet. Conversely, though, when he gets caught up in trying to prove himself, or isn’t utilized correctly, he gets inefficient.”
“The bottom line is Jordan needs to decide what he needs to be. His physical gifts are undeniable, he has the potential to play multiple positions and be a two-way contributor, but gets inefficient when he starts worrying about the wrong things or trying to prove something.”
Jordan will have the opportunity to become a featured player when he arrives on campus next year. Guards Ian Jackson and Tounde Yessoufou are likely to enter the NBA draft, while Keyshawn Hall, Quinn Ellis, and Reed Bailey run out of eligibility following this season.
The Red Storm are not finished on the high school recruiting circuit. They plan to host four-star recruit Godson Okokoh for a visit this weekend. Okokoh is the 112th-rated prospect and 21st-rated power forward in the class of 2027 by 247Sports’ composite rankings.
