St. John's Glenn Taylor enters transfer portal
Glenn Taylor Jr. #35 of the St. John's Red Storm puts up a shot for a basket against the Seton Hall Pirates during their quarter-final game of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, Mar. 14, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
St. John’s swingman Glenn Taylor Jr., who played a key role in the Red Storm’s late-season surge, has put his name in the NCAA transfer portal. The 6-6 junior, who came to St. John’s a year ago after two seasons at Oregon State, made the announcement in a social media post on Monday.
After thanking coach Rick Pitino, his staff and the entire St. John’s community, Taylor wrote, “I have made the decision to enter the transfer portal while keeping an open line of communication with St. John's. Thank you, New York for embracing me as one of your own.”
A source familiar with the situation called Taylor’s split with the program “amicable” and added that Taylor’s decision was more about “wanting to get closer” to his West Coast roots and “nothing to do with [his] role.”
Taylor is the third and most significant Storm player seeking a move. Drissa Traore and Cruz Davis put their names in the portal last month.
Taylor averaged 4.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.5 minutes per game. He started 21 of the Storm’s 33 games, including six of their final seven when they won six straight before a season-ending five-point loss to Connecticut in the Big East semifinals. Taylor shot 44.9% from the floor and was 29-for-59 on three-point attempts, ranking among St. John’s better outside threats.
After starting 12 of the Red Storm’s first 13 games, Pitino gave him only three starts in the next 13, a transition that coincided with RJ Luis Jr. returning from injury and beginning to play regularly.
However, he became a spark in the late-season successes. He had 10 rebounds, six assists and four points in St. John’s Feb. 25 upset of Creighton and 17 points, three assists and three steals in the Feb. 28 victory at Butler.
“What a true blessing and honor it has been to have the opportunity to play for New York's team, ‘Johnnie Nation,’ " Taylor wrote in his dispatch. “The city's unmatched passion for basketball has made every moment representing this incredible program unforgettable. I want to give a huge thanks to Coach Pitino and the entire coaching staff for their tireless dedication in helping me elevate my game and helping me see another side of basketball that's instilled in me for life. As I move forward, I'll carry the pride of wearing the team's colors with me wherever I go.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
