NCAA: Rick Pitino Adds Serbian Center Lazar Stojkovic to Strengthen St. John's Global Project

Rick Pitino continues expanding St. John's Red Storm's international identity with the addition of Serbian center Lazar Stojkovic, one of Europe's most promising young big men. The 18-year-old, standing 7'0", commits to the New York program for the 2026/27 season.

Developed through the youth categories of Crvena Zvezda and BKK Radnicki, Stojkovic has stood out for his intimidating presence around the rim and technical skills uncommon for a player of his size. In the current Serbian league campaign, he averages 1.3 blocks per game, confirming his defensive impact.

Beyond his rim protection, the Balkan big man also offers offensive versatility, with a solid mid-range shot and the ability to play away from the paint—a profile increasingly valued in American college basketball.

His development had already caught attention in European youth circuits. In the 2023/24 and 2024/25 editions of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Tournament, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. He also made an impact at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025, finishing among the tournament's leading shot-blockers.

With this addition, Rick Pitino continues building a roster with a strong European flavor. Stojkovic joins names like Djordje Jovanovic, Quinn Ellis, and Ruben Prey in a project that aims to establish itself among NCAA's elite.