Rick Pitino needed a power forward to complete his roster and he turned to a potential 2025 NBA Draft prospect, Ruben Prey, to come to Queens for the upcoming season.
Prey committed to the Red Storm on Tuesday night after the Johnnies had been on the radar of the Portuguese talent for over a year.
Things began to intensify between St. John’s and Prey over the last month as the program had to ensure he still held his amateur status despite playing internationally as well as comply with all other NCAA regulations.
Most list Prey at 6-foot-10, but his last public measurements came at the 2023 Basketball Without Borders when he was listed at 6-foot-9 with an 8-foot-11 standing reach and 7-foot-2 wingspan.
This season, Prey has played in 46 official games between the Eurocup, Spanish ACB, and Spanish LEB Silver Leagues. He averaged 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds on 51.2-percent shooting from the floor yet only 21.1-percent from 3-point range.
Ruben Prey is a high-level athlete who can run the floor very well and has a feel for the game around the basket, but his shooting numbers need to improve in order to thrive in Rick Pitino’s system.
Over the last three seasons, he has attempted only 57 3-pointers, making 15 (26.3-percent).
Prey spent time at the 2023 Adidas Eurocamp last summer, averaging 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds across three games.
He joins at St. John’s frontcourt comprised of Zuby Ejiofor, USC transfer Vince Iwuchukwu, North Texas transfer Aaron Scott, and freshman Khaman Maker.
Prey will also be the second international player on the Red Storm roster with Greek prospect Lefteris Liotopoulos.
The expectation is that he will have the ability to compete for a starting spot and significant minutes once he arrives in Queens. St. John’s has yet to formally announce the signing of his National Letter of Intent.