Zuby Ejiofor, the standout forward from St. John’s University, heads into the 2026 NBA Draft carrying both the hopes of ending the program’s draft drought and the weight of ongoing questions about his fit at the professional level. At 22 years old and standing 6-foot-8, Ejiofor has faced skepticism concerning his size, position, and shooting consistency, but he embraces the challenge as motivation.

Ejiofor’s path to this moment defied early doubts. Originally a top 50 prospect out of Garland High School in Texas, he began his collegiate career at Kansas, where playing time was limited. Seeking greater opportunity, he transferred to St. John’s to play under coach Rick Pitino, who credited Ejiofor’s relentless work ethic as a key factor in his development. The forward has described the journey as “running my own marathon,” noting steady growth each year.

Last season, Ejiofor emerged as one of college basketball’s most versatile players. He led the Big East in multiple categories for St. John’s, averaging 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. He made history in the conference by becoming the first player to simultaneously earn Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. His contributions helped St. John’s capture back-to-back Big East regular-season and tournament titles and reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in 27 years.

Despite these accolades, the NBA scouting community remains divided. Concerns persist about Ejiofor’s ability to stretch the floor, given his 30.5 percent three-point shooting on limited attempts, and whether he can score effectively against larger interior defenders at the professional level. Nevertheless, some evaluators compare him to a modern Charles Oakley, praising his versatility, defensive intensity, rebounding, shot-blocking, and work ethic.

Ejiofor has conducted workouts with numerous teams—including the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, and Dallas Mavericks—and held virtual interviews with the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings. Mock drafts project him to be selected late in the first round or early in the second, with some speculation that the Knicks, holding several picks in that range, could see him as a fit alongside departing center Mitchell Robinson.

Alongside Ejiofor, St. John’s prospects Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins also aim to make an impression. Mitchell, a 6-foot-7 forward known for playmaking and defense, faces questions about his shooting but has drawn attention in late second-round projections. Hopkins, recovering from an ACL injury experienced in 2024, showed improvement down the stretch last season, particularly in NCAA Tournament play, and is projected to go in the late second round or possibly undrafted.

For Ejiofor, hearing his name called would mark a culmination of a long and arduous journey. He has emphasized his readiness to prove doubters wrong and be a “plug-and-play” complementary player at the pro level. “There’s been a whole lot of ups and downs throughout this journey,” he said. “To hear my name called would mean absolutely everything.”