St. John’s losing two more players to transfer portal with additions likely on horizon

Sadiku Ibine Ayo will have company in the transfer portal from two teammates. 

Lefteris Liotopoulos and Imran Suljanovic are also planning to enter the portal, as first reported by The Post. 

A sophomore 6-foot-4 sharpshooter from Greece, Liotopoulos averaged 2.9 points per game.

He had some bright moments this season, highlighted by a 17-point outburst in a win at Creighton.

Suljanovic, a 6-foot-8 forward with Austria, suffered a dislocated patella tendon in October and didn’t appear in a game as a Johnnie. 

Neither player were projected to be a major contributor next season.

St. John’s is expected to add at least five players in the transfer portal.

St. John’s Lefteris Liotopoulos slams the ball. Robert Sabo for NY Post

They have been linked to, among others, Kentucky forward Mo Dioubate, Arizona State center Massamba Diop, Kansas center Flory Bidunga, Georgetown guard KJ Lewis, Santa Clara forward Allen Graves, Kansas State wing Abdi Bashir Jr., Virginia Tech guard Neoklis Avdalas and Robert Morris guard DeSean Goode. 

On Tuesday, The Post spoke with coach Rick Pitino, and he was confident the Johnnies would be able to reload this spring. 

St. John’s Red Storm Imran Suljanovic (22) drives around Joson Sanon (3) during a team scrimmage. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

“We have a great brand, we have a brand that everybody’s interested in talking with us,” Pitino said. “Anybody that we’ve wanted to talk to, they’ve opened up right away. The feedback has been incredible. We have back to back [Big East] Players of the Year. We’re coming off selling out the Garden [several times], back-to-back championships.

“Everything is in great shape right now.”