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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 08: Sadiku Ibine Ayo #2 of the St. John's Red Storm looks on during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Madison Square Garden on November 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the past four years, Sadiku Ibine Ayo has been a fixture on Rick Pitino’s teams, playing under the Hall of Fame coach for one season at Iona and the last three campaigns at St. John’s. Now, he will be moving on from Pitino for the first time in his college career.
Days after the Red Storm’s season ended, the transformation of next year’s roster has started. Ayo will formally enter the transfer portal when it opens on April 7. The news was first reported by Pete Nakos of On3.
According to Zach Braziller of the New York Post, a reunion between the two parties is still a possibility. Ayo is reportedly “very close” to Pitino, and the head coach wants him to explore his options.
Although Ayo was a minor on-court contributor at St. John’s, he was a respected leader in the locker room and served as a co-captain alongside Zuby Ejiofor for the last two seasons. The 6-foot-7 forward from Ghana began his career at Iona, averaging 2.6 points and 1.5 rebounds as a freshman, before he followed Rick Pitino when he was hired at St. John’s in the spring of 2023. After only playing five games and redshirting in an injury-shortened sophomore year, Ayo went on to appear in 61 games and make three starts over the next two seasons, logging 1.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.3 steals per game.
Ayo had a couple of standout performances with the Red Storm. During this season’s opener against Quinnipiac, he posted 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting off the bench in a 108-74 win. Making one of his rare starts last season on the road against DePaul, Ayo scored a career-high 15 points, making three triples, and pulling down five rebounds in 31 minutes of action as he helped the Johnnies secure an 82-58 win.
Following Ayo’s departure, the Red Storm currently have nine scholarship players for the 2026-27 season. The only two other forwards on the roster are rising junior Ruben Prey and redshirt freshman Imran Suljanovic.
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