St. John’s Guard Deivon Smith Questionable for Big East Tournament Opener

Smith, recovering from a shoulder injury, has practiced sparingly, leaving his availability for Thursday’s game uncertain.

Deivon Smith, St. John’s senior point guard, has been dealing with a bruised right shoulder since January, impacting his performance and availability.
Smith has missed five games this season and was absent from the team’s regular-season finale against Marquette last Saturday.
Coach Rick Pitino noted Smith’s mental hesitations about reinjury as a key factor in his recovery, alongside physical rust from limited practice time.
Smith has contributed significantly to St. John’s season, averaging 9.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.7 steals in 28 minutes per game.
St. John’s, ranked sixth nationally, will face Butler in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, with Smith’s status remaining uncertain.