One of St. John’s top priorities this offseason was rebuilding its backcourt and it landed a key piece in the endeavor Monday morning.
Utah’s Deivon Smith, one of the top lead guards in the transfer portal, verbally committed to Rick Pitino and the Johnnies after taking an official visit late last week.
St. John’s could end up pairing him with Seton Hall star Kadary Richmond, whom it is still chasing. Richmond has taken visits to St. John’s and Oklahoma.
The 6-foot Smith set a Pac-12 single-season record with five triple-doubles last season, a major difference-maker who will help replace departed star Daniss Jenkins.
He was also hearing from, among others, Washington, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Louisville.
It will be a homecoming of sorts. Smith’s mother, Toni, hails from Brooklyn and his father Sean is from Connecticut.
He grew up in Decatur, Ga., and started his career at Mississippi State.
Smith has never played in the Garden, but got a chance to see it during his visit.
It will be his new home. So will the Big East, one of the country’s premier leagues.
“I just wanted to be pushed and get a different challenge,” Smith told The Post. “I want to be great. I paid attention when they called me, paid attention to all the details and they were the best fit. … [Pitino] definitely praised my game, just showed me ways I can be successful in his program and in the future. He definitely believes in me a lot. It made my decision easier.”
Pitino wrote on X that Smith has similarities to Heat guard Terry Rozier, his former star at Louisville.
“Super excited to have Deivon Smith joining the Johnnies,” he posted. “Reminds me of Terry Rozier. Total Dog who rebounds, creates, and scores.”
“I love it. I know they have some good guards,” Smith said. “I know it’s going to be a fight each and every night I step on the court. I love the big moments.”
Smith averaged 13.3 points, 7.1 assists and 6.3 rebounds last season, and shot a career-best 40 percent from 3-point range.
He credited that improvement to being given freedom by Utah to play his game and not worry about getting pulled if he made mistakes.
“Bottom line, he’s really good. Really quick, hard to keep in front [of], can guard the ball,” a high-major assistant coach familiar with Smith said. “He’s more of a playmaker than a big-time scorer, and that’s really the one and only thing. You want him to play with other good players so you can maximize them.
“That’s a good get. He’s probably one of the three best point guards who hit the portal.”
Smith’s addition leaves the Johnnies with two open scholarships.
It has also added transfers Vince Iwuchukwu (USC) and Aaron Scott (North Texas) and returns the young core of Simeon Wilcher, Brady Dunlap, RJ Luis and Zuby Ejiofor.
St. John’s is also monitoring the lawsuit filed by Jordan Dingle and Chris Ledlum.
They are suing the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility after their waivers were denied.