Oziyah Sellers is aiming to secure a roster spot with the New York Knicks, drawing a direct line between his collegiate experience at St. John's and the qualities that fueled the Knicks' recent championship run. Sellers, a 6-foot-4 guard, highlighted the shared mentality of grit, a refusal to lose, and a daily competitive fight as unifying factors between the two programs.
"Coming from St. John’s, I feel like we had that same mentality. We wanted to win really bad," Sellers stated. "It wasn’t too hard of a transition mindset-wise. Two kinds of similar programs in terms of mindset. It’s definitely something you have to bring every day."
Sellers also noted the connection between the Knicks' fanbase and St. John's supporters, many of whom frequent Madison Square Garden for college games. "Obviously, being at St. John’s we play pretty much all our home games at the Garden. So I feel like we have a lot of the same fanbase. Knicks fans, a lot of them are St. John’s fans. It’s kind of like a perfect fit, transitioning right to the Knicks. I’m just grateful for it, for sure."
Sellers played one season at St. John's before setting his sights on an NBA career. He is now looking to translate his game to the professional level with the Knicks. The team recently concluded a successful season, marked by their first championship in 53 years, a feat Sellers believes aligns with the determined ethos he developed in college.