PROVIDENCE, R.I. — St. John’s loss to Arkansas brought a scintillating season to a devastating halt. The No. 2 Red Storm’s 75-66 loss to the No. 10 Razorbacks in their West Region second-round game at Amica Mutual Pavilion also brought a heartbreaking end to the college careers of Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott and Deivon Smith.
All three played part in a campaign that saw St. John’s set a program record for victories, win a first Big East regular-season championship for the first time in 40 years, a conference tournament championship for the first time in 25 years and a first NCAA Tournament game in 25 years.
Storm coach Rick Pitino took some time during his final postgame news conference to reflect on what each of them brought to his program.
“I’m just very appreciative for Aaron Scott,” Pitino said. “He had a bad game but he gave me his heart and soul with a broken finger. I’m very appreciative of Kadary Richmond. He was a true pleasure to coach. He had a bad game tonight defensively and took him out of the game, but he was pure joy to coach. I’m very, very appreciative of Deivon Smith, who’s been hurt and gave me everything he had.
“I’m very appreciative. I’m very thankful to the guys that gave me every single thing they had. I hate to see them go out this way.”
Richmond’s final act was as heartbreaking as the loss itself. He was limited to 16 minutes by foul trouble and fouled out with 6:28 left.
He was the big fish Pitino and his staff landed this past offseason. Viewed by many as the top-rated transfer in the 2024 portal cycle, Richmond, who began his career at Syracuse and left Big East foe Seton Hall after three seasons, made St. John’s his last stop.
“We had a special group of guys, starting from the coaching staff all the way down to the players and the managers,” Richmond said. “And I’m just thankful and appreciative that they allowed me to come here and be the person I am, and I will always be thankful for them for that.”
Smith, who transferred from Utah, came off the bench as both Richmond and Simeon Wilcher dealt with foul issues all game and played 32 minutes. He scored 13 points and had six rebounds.
He was a sparkplug for the Storm despite battling a shoulder injury that hampered him for the last two months.
Asked what he will take away from his final season, Smith replied, “Playing with Coach P and this group of guys, the unforgettable moments, the experience, my first time making the (NCAA) tournament. It’s a lot to take in, but it was . . . a super season.”
Scott, the North Texas transfer, had seven points and shot 1-for-10 from the field, 1-for-6 from three and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line. He had played the final three games of the season with a torn ligament in his right thumb.
Said Pitino: “We’ll give the credit to Arkansas, and I’ll be very, very thankful to those three guys for giving me everything they had. And we move on.”
