St. John’s remains in full pursuit of Seton Hall transfer Kadary Richmond

Rick Pitino and St. John’s added one veteran point guard on Monday via the transfer portal, but remain in hot pursuit of another.

Even after adding former Utah point guard Deivon Smith, the Red Storm are still heavily pursuing Seton Hall transfer Kadary Richmond, who is expected to visit campus this week, sources told NJ Advance Media. The 6-foot-6 Richmond, a Brooklyn native, visited Oklahoma this past weekend.

In Smith and former Roselle Catholic guard Simeon Wilcher, Pitino has two guards but he would like four for the 2024-25 season. The Red Storm are also adding Greek standout guard Lefteris Liotopoulos.

A Smith/Richmond duo could be similar to the Peyton Siva/Russ Smith backcourt Pitino had on Louisville’s 2013 NCAA championship.

“You gotta have four backcourt players and right now we have three,” Pitino told NJ Advance Media Monday by phone.

“You have to have four guards. You can’t play two guards, you have to have four guards.”

St. John’s recently added forwards Aaron Scott (North Texas) and Vince Iwuchukwu (USC).

“Everything is falling into place like we hoped,” Pitino said. “We have three more [scholarships] left and we obviously have to get another guard. We have to get another power forward and everything’s falling into place because we’ve been very patient.”

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Richmond averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists while being named to the All-Big East First Team.

Richmond is among nine Pirates to enter the portal after Seton Hall won the NIT championship earlier this month.

Former St. John’s guard Dylan Addae-Wusu is leaning toward returning to Seton Hall, sources said.

The Pirates have added wings Prince Aligbe (Boston College) and Scotty Middleton (Ohio State) and forward Gus Yalden (Wisconsin).

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.