St. John's has secured a commitment from Indiana transfer Reed Bailey, a 6-foot-10 forward who can play both center and power forward. The addition of Bailey, announced Tuesday afternoon, aims to bolster a St. John's roster that coach Rick Pitino described as thin on college experience.
"We think he fits in perfectly for what we need. He’s a veteran basketball player," Pitino told The Post. "He has seen it all, done it all, and he knows how to play in a motion offense. He has good size. He really knows how to play the game."
The NCAA's decision to grant an extra year of eligibility to players, without grandfathering it into last year's seniors, has created opportunities for late roster additions. St. John's capitalized on this flexibility following a spot opening on its roster when European high school prospect Gildas Gimenez was ruled academically ineligible.
Bailey's experience is expected to provide immediate depth and veteran presence for the Red Storm.