In a decision that surprised very few, Chris Ledlum announced that he is transferring to St. John’s. The 6-foot-6 forward transferred from Harvard to Tennessee but three months after committing to the Vols, Ledlum is headed home to New York.

Ledlum adds to the huge transfer portal haul that Rick Pitino is using to reload the Red Storm’s roster in his first year at the Big East program.

After Ledlum announced his commitment to Tennessee two Volunteer players – Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James – withdrew their names from the NBA Draft close to the withdrawal deadline. Neither were not expected to return to Knoxville. Their decision changed Ledlum’s thinking, according to sources.

The Brooklyn, N.Y. native, who earned First Team All-Ivy League honors after the 2022-23 season after scoring 18.8 points per game and grabbing 8.5 rebounds per game, was linked to St. John’s within minutes of entering the transfer portal on July 13

St. John’s had a big need a power forward and now Ledlum gets to come home and use his final season of eligibility under the tutelage of a Hall of Fame coach.

Ledlum isn’t the only Ivy League Player to transfer to St. John’s. Jordan Dingle (Penn), the Ivy League Player of the Year, who was second in the nation in scoring last season also transferred to St. John’s. Other players who exited the portal and transferred to St. John’s included Nahiem Alleyne, Glenn Taylor Jr, RJ Luis, Zuby Ejiofor, Quinn Slazinski, Cruz Davis and Daniss Jenkins.

Pitino has had one of the most impressive off-seasons, in terms of adding talent, in over a decade. Enough talent that should earn St. John’s its first preseason top-25 ranking since 1999.