St. John’s Bryce Hopkins feels prepared for NBA leap, hopeful about draft chances By Zach Braziller Published June 22, 2026, 11:23 p.m. ET of the St. John's Red Storm drives down court as Chandler Pigge #13 of the Harvard Crimson defends during the second half. Charles Wenzelberg for The New York Post Bryce Hopkins’ college career started with John Calipari.
But nobody got him ready for the last few months better than Rick Pitino.
“Coach P definitely prepared me the most to be where I am today and to go through these NBA workouts, all the traveling and all the work you’re putting in behind the scenes,” the former Red Storm star said ahead of this week’s NBA draft. “How Coach P ran his system and the culture he has at St. John’s, it translates so easily to what these NBA teams are doing. When I go visit them and I see the players in early working out, lifting [weights] … Coach P definitely prepared me for where I am today.”
