St. John’s Faces Roster Shift as Dylan Darling Enters Transfer Portal

The St. John’s Red Storm are facing an offseason roster shakeup following the program’s strongest postseason performance in decades. After reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, the team now turns its attention to roster stability and retention.

A key development arrived on Tuesday when guard Dylan Darling entered the NCAA transfer portal. While not an official departure, the move is widely viewed as a strong indication that he may play elsewhere next season.

Darling’s decision comes at a pivotal moment for a program trying to build on its tournament breakthrough under head coach Rick Pitino. His potential exit introduces both uncertainty and opportunity within the backcourt rotation.

The Red Storm now face the challenge of replacing key contributions while continuing to reshape their roster through the transfer portal and incoming talent additions.

1. A Key Contributor During a Breakthrough Season

Darling played a steady and important role throughout the 2025–26 campaign, providing consistency in St. John’s backcourt. As a redshirt junior, he offered experience and stability during a season that culminated in a deep NCAA Tournament run. He averaged 6.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, serving as a complementary piece within the team’s rotation. While not the primary scoring option, his all-around contributions helped balance the roster. His most memorable moment came during March Madness, when he hit a game-winning layup against the Kansas Jayhawks to send St. John’s into the Sweet 16. That play became one of the defining highlights of the program’s postseason surge. That performance cemented his place in one of the most successful tournament runs in recent school history.

2. Portal Decision and Immediate Impact

Darling officially entered the transfer portal on Tuesday, according to reporting from On3 Transfer Portal and insider Pete Nakos. His decision arrived just weeks after St. John’s completed its Sweet 16 appearance. While entering the portal does not guarantee relocation, it often signals a strong intent to explore other opportunities. For St. John’s, it creates immediate questions about backcourt depth and continuity. His departure, if finalized, would remove a veteran guard from a rotation that relied heavily on experience during its postseason run. That experience will be difficult to fully replace in the short term. The timing also adds pressure to an offseason already filled with roster evaluation and restructuring decisions.

3. Pitino’s Roster Reshaping Continues

Darling’s potential exit is part of a broader roster transition under head coach Rick Pitino, who has been actively reshaping the program since taking over. The Red Storm have been balancing incoming transfers with outgoing players as they adapt to the modern college basketball landscape. One recent addition includes European guard Quinn Ellis, whose arrival is expected to influence backcourt roles and minutes distribution. His presence may partially offset the loss of experience if Darling moves on. At the same time, Darling’s departure opens opportunities for younger players to step into larger roles. Development within the program’s returning guard group will now become a priority. The overall strategy reflects a fast-moving offseason in which roster flexibility and portal activity are central to sustaining competitive momentum.