St. John’s has added another experienced forward to its roster, one with recent professional experience, as the Red Storm continue building under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
Former Auburn standout Keyshawn Hall committed to the program, according to a report from On3 college basketball insider Joe Tipton on Tuesday. Hall, a 6-foot-7 forward, went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft after a strong senior season and participated in summer league action with the Miami Heat.
The move comes after St. John’s sent three players to the NBA Draft in June — Zuby Ejiofor in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks, Dillon Mitchell to the Boston Celtics and Bryce Hopkins to the Denver Nuggets. It marked the first time the program produced three draft picks in the same year since 1983 and the first under the modern two-round format.
Hall represents a rare return from the professional ranks. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Heat and appeared in five summer league games, averaging 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in limited minutes.His path back to college stems from a preliminary injunction granted in an Ohio court. A judge awarded him a fifth season of eligibility under rules affecting 2022 high school graduates.
“However, the NCAA has since been granted a motion to stay the injunction, temporarily pausing the court’s decision. Therefore, Hall is currently ineligible,” Tipton reported.
Hall and his attorney continue pursuing legal avenues. “but he and his attorney are working through legal options in hopes of allowing him to play for the Johnnies this upcoming season,” Tipton added.
If cleared, Hall would fill a significant need in the frontcourt. St. John’s lost Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman to a torn ACL in the offseason. The team also graduated Ejiofor, its leading scorer and rebounder and the Big East Player of the Year.
The Red Storm enter the 2026-27 season with elevated expectations after winning consecutive Big East regular-season and tournament titles. They advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, highlighted by a second-round upset of Kansas on a buzzer-beating layup by Dylan Darling.
Hall averaged 19.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season at Auburn while shooting 45.1 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from three-point range and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line. He earned third-team All-SEC honors, ranked fifth in the conference in scoring and set an Auburn single-season record with 228 free throws made.
Over his college career spanning four schools, Hall averaged 16.3 points and 6.5 rebounds across 116 games. He previously starred at UCF, where he posted 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and earned second-team All-Big 12 recognition, and at George Mason, averaging 16.6 points and 8.1 rebounds.
St. John’s becomes Hall’s fifth college stop after earlier seasons at UNLV, George Mason, UCF and Auburn. He reportedly drew interest from several programs, including Kentucky, before choosing the Red Storm. He also turned aside offers from USC and Gonzaga.
Pitino’s staff has emphasized experienced additions. Hall could form a potent scoring duo alongside Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou, who nearly entered the 2026 NBA Draft himself after averaging 17.8 points per game.
Auburn reached the NIT championship game last season with Hall as a key contributor. The Tigers finished with a strong postseason run after narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament.
Hall’s addition raises the ceiling for a St. John’s team already viewed as a potential Final Four contender. The program has transformed under Pitino since his arrival in 2023, posting strong records and consistent deep tournament runs.
Eligibility remains the primary question. A hearing related to the broader injunction is scheduled for later in September. Until resolved, Hall’s status is uncertain, but the commitment signals Pitino’s aggressive approach to roster building in the transfer portal era.
The Red Storm return several pieces from last season’s successful squad while integrating high-level transfers. Fans in Queens will watch closely to see if Hall can join the lineup and contribute immediately once any legal hurdles clear.
