St. John’s Red Storm coach Rick Pitino is thrilled with the recent progress of a couple of his players, highlighting how these advancements are significantly impacting the team’s dynamics this season. On Monday, Dec. 8, Pitino took to his official X/Twitter account to commend the efforts of two young athletes, emphasizing their journey towards becoming stronger defenders in the collegiate basketball landscape for the 2025-26 season.
The players receiving accolades from Pitino are sophomore guards Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon. The coach expressed eagerness over their increasing commitment to defensive play while nurturing a robust winning mindset. This enthusiasm translated to an energized message shared on social media celebrating their advancements.
Really excited with the improvement of Joson Sanon and Ian Jackson at the defensive end. Exciting to see. Awesome attitudes to learn and grow!
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) December 8, 2025
Currently, Jackson is averaging 11.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in around 18.3 minutes, appearing in eight games off the bench. Meanwhile, Sanon is contributing 9.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game, playing a crucial role in the starting lineup of the Red Storm. Their combined efforts have been essential to St. John’s robust current winning record.
The Red Storm now aims to initiate a winning streak and secure their sixth win of the year against coach Dan Geriot’s Iona Gaels on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Madison Square Garden in New York. St. John’s holds an overall record of 5-3 in their non-conference schedule and is coming off a narrow victory of 63-58 against coach Chris Beard’s Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the same venue.
Development of Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon After Different Freshman Experiences
Rick Pitino is effectively cultivating chemistry with Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon, both of whom come with varied experiences from their freshman years in different college basketball environments during the 2024-25 season.
Jackson showcased his scoring ability early on with coach Hubert Davis at North Carolina, while Sanon has demonstrated consistent growth from his time with coach Bobby Hurley at Arizona State.
Both athletes are driven to help the Red Storm embark on a deep postseason journey in the upcoming 2026 national tournament.
