Originally published by the BIG EAST Conference. Story and photo credits: BIG EAST Conference.

St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor has been named the winner of the 2025–26 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Player of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year awards. The conference’s Academic Affairs Committee made the selection. He will receive a $2,000 scholarship, which may be used for graduate or professional studies.

The GHS alumnus has shone in the classroom, in the community, and on the court. He has a 3.70 grade-point average and is on schedule to earn his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management in May. Last season, he was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America team, and in April 2025, he was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society. A two-time member of the Dean’s List at St. John’s, he is on track to make a third appearance this academic year. Ejiofor is a two-time Academic All-BIG EAST selection and has been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll at St. John’s on five occasions.

Ejiofor was a unanimous 2025–26 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, averaging 16.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game for the Red Storm this season. He is the only power conference player to rank in the top 10 in his conference while leading his team in all four statistical categories. He also earned the BIG EAST Most Improved Player award a season ago.

Ejiofor has made a significant impact in the community at St. John’s. Last April, he was part of the athletics department’s annual event in partnership with Community Mayors, welcoming more than 300 children to the Queens campus for a day of fun, smiles, and games at Belson Stadium, Jack Kaiser Stadium, and Taffner Field House. Community Mayors, Inc. has provided recreational therapy for children with special needs in the New York metro area for nearly 70 years.

He is also a member of the Council on Community, Culture, and Social Justice (CCCSJ), playing an instrumental role in encouraging fellow student-athletes at St. John’s to become actively involved in council initiatives and its commitment to inclusion and community engagement. His efforts during the university’s annual Solidarity/Unity Week this past November were especially impactful. Ejiofor’s leadership helped promote the theme of “Global Roots, Red Storm Pride,” reflecting the diverse backgrounds of St. John’s student-athletes and celebrating global heritage, international diversity, and the unifying power of sport.

On the court, Ejiofor earned several major BIG EAST honors for the 2025–26 season, including Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team. He earned the BIG EAST Most Improved Player award a season ago and became the fourth St. John’s men’s basketball player to earn the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Award.

The BIG EAST Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is one of many scholarships presented by the conference each academic year. Twenty-two student-athletes (one male and one female from each of the BIG EAST’s 11 member institutions) receive postgraduate scholarships as the winners of their respective institutions’ Scholar-Athlete Awards. Those winners, along with the basketball award recipients, are then eligible for the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, which provides an additional postgraduate scholarship to one male and one female student-athlete.

Additionally, the senior forward was named the 2025–26 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year this past Monday and was a three-time BIG EAST Player of the Week and a five-time honor roll selection this season. He was also named to the Naismith Player and Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team and placed on the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Top 10 list. He has tallied 25 double-digit scoring performances this season, including nine games with at least 20 points and a career-high 33 points against Providence on Jan. 3.

From Garland to the BIG EAST stage, Ejiofor’s journey reflects an unmatched standard of excellence that continues to rise.

Sources:

BIG EAST Names Scholar-Athlete of the Year

BIG EAST Announces Men's Basketball Major Awards