Bryce Hopkins faces former team as St. John’s hosts Providence

Bryce Hopkins played 50 games at Providence and was derailed by a serious knee injury before transferring to St. John's.

Hopkins is averaging 13.5 points supporting Zuby Ejiofor in the Red Storm frontcourt and faces his former program for the first time Saturday afternoon against Providence at New York.

Hopkins is shooting a career-best 48.3% and scored in double-figures in five of his first six games. He was held to six points when St. John's (9-4, 2-0 Big East) opened league play with a 79-66 victory over DePaul on Dec. 16 and had eight points in Wednesday's 95-83 win at Georgetown along with a season-high 10 rebounds and six assists to tie a career high.

"He just had two unbelievable days of practice," St. John's coach Rick Pitino said about Hopkins. "... We want him to be great, not only because it helps the team but because it helps him individually, and brings us to a different level."

Hopkins' contributions supported a game when five players reached double figures. Ejiofor totaled 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while guards Ian Jackson and Oziyah Sellers combined for 30 points and hit eight of the Red Storm's season-high 15 3-pointers.

"Time will tell. I think we made a step up for sure," Ejiofor said. "It's not easy going on the road getting a good victory. We did a lot of things right, we did a lot of things we can definitely get better at."

Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points before a knee injury ended his 2023-24 season after 14 games. He appeared only three times last season when the Friars (7-6, 0-2) went 12-20 and lost on two buzzer-beating shots to St. John's.

Including the Big East tournament, the Friars are 1-12 in their past 13 conference games with five losses by five points or less.

Providence followed up its 113-110 double-overtime loss to Butler Dec. 13 by shooting a season-worst 39.6% from the floor and 21.7% from 3-point range in its 72-67 home loss to Seton Hall on Dec. 19.

"We have to keep scratching and clawing and finding a group of guys that can play with the level of toughness and discipline on a consistent basis to be able to compete in this league," Providence coach Kim English said.

Jason Edwards is leading the Friars with 18.5 points but he was 1 of 6 from 3-point range and finished with a season-low 10 points against Seton Hall after scoring 32 versus Butler.