Rick Pitino's St. John's team will forgo a traditional point guard in the 2025-26 season, claiming that the role is obsolete. North Carolina transfer Ian Jackson and Idaho State transfer Dylan Darling will take on lead guard responsibilities. With a focus on utilizing the athleticism of the players, the team will implement a system where all players will handle and pass the ball interchangeably. Pitino sees this shift as an evolution in basketball strategy, allowing for greater fluidity and skill utilization across positions.
"The point guard is totally done in basketball," Pitino, who turns 73 next month, said Tuesday after an open scrimmage at Carnesecca Arena that was attended by a slew of media, boosters and other onlookers.
"We just realized that we have so many good athletes that we're going to run a pointless system," Pitino said, adding that Cincinnati transfer Dillon Mitchell led the team in assists during the summer.
"So everybody handles the ball, everybody passes the ball. Ian obviously will play a one or a two when he's in the game, but they're all interchangeable parts."
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