Zuby Ejiofor's dad wants him to show Kansas they 'made a mistake'

Ejiofor faces his former coach and school in Sweet 16 showdown

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:26am

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Zuby Ejiofor, a former Kansas player, is now starring at St. John's under coach Rick Pitino. Ejiofor's dad wants him to show Kansas that they "made a mistake" in letting him go. Ejiofor will face his former coach Bill Self and Kansas in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

Why it matters

This matchup pits Ejiofor against his former school and coach, adding extra drama and motivation to the high-stakes tournament game. Ejiofor's decision to transfer from Kansas to St. John's has paid off, and he now has a chance to prove his former team wrong on a big stage.

The details

Ejiofor originally chose to play for Kansas, but when the Jayhawks landed 7-foot-1 transfer Hunter Dickinson, Ejiofor knew he needed to find a new school to get more playing time and development. He ultimately landed at St. John's, where he has thrived under coach Rick Pitino. Now Ejiofor will face his former coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, giving him a chance to show Kansas they made a mistake in letting him go.

  • Ejiofor originally played for Kansas.
  • Ejiofor transferred to St. John's to play for coach Rick Pitino.
  • Ejiofor and St. John's will face Ejiofor's former team Kansas in the Sweet 16 on Sunday night.

The players

Zuby Ejiofor

A former Kansas player who is now starring at St. John's under coach Rick Pitino.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's basketball team, who has helped develop Ejiofor into a key player for the program.

Bill Self

The head coach of the Kansas basketball team, who previously coached Ejiofor before he transferred.

Hunter Dickinson

A 7-foot-1 transfer who joined the Kansas team, leading Ejiofor to decide he needed to find a new school to get more playing time.

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What’s next

The winner of the Sweet 16 matchup between Ejiofor's St. John's team and his former Kansas squad will advance to the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament.

The takeaway

Ejiofor's decision to transfer from Kansas to St. John's has paid dividends, as he has blossomed into a key player for the Johnnies. Now he has a chance to prove his former team made a mistake in letting him go by leading St. John's to victory over Kansas in the Sweet 16.