Ed Cooley believes sky is limit for Bryce Hopkins at St. John’s…
Ed Cooley received a recruiting battle for Bryce Hopkins as soon as before — however not this time.
And now the Georgetown head coach should cope with Hopkins at St. John’s this season, with the 6-foot-6 ahead anticipated to be one in all the top gamers in the nation after his switch from Providence.
“Did I think we had Bryce? No,” Cooley said at Big East media day at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. “It’s recruitment. It’s the portal. I think he chose where he could go develop and be the best player he can be and I thought he chose a coach that’s gonna push him to be the best player he can be.”
That coach is Rick Pitino, who bested Cooley to win Hopkins’ providers for his final season of eligibility.
The Illinois native started his school profession at Kentucky and left after one season for Providence, the place Cooley was the head coach.
He averaged more than 15 factors and eight rebounds per game in his season-plus at Providence before he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee.
St. John’s Red Storm ahead Bryce Hopkins shoots a soar shot at observe in Carnesecca Arena on Oct. 16, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
After returning late last season, he entered the portal again and ended up in Queens, the place Pitino hopes he’s an integral a part of a top team.
He didn’t start in the preseason opener against Towson, with Pitino wanting Hopkins to up his game and attain his potential.
Hoyas head coach Ed Cooley reacts on the ground during the second half of Georgetown’s loss to DePaul in the Big East Tournament on March 12, 2025 at Madison Square Garden. Robert Sabo for NY Post
But Pitino said Tuesday Hopkins could be in the beginning 5 when St. John’s hosts Michigan at MSG for another exhibition game.
“Bryce has been great the last week,” Pitino said. “He played terrific in the opening exhibition game. He’ll start out against Michigan. … His body looks great. He’s lost a lot of weight. He’s toned it down. He’s shooting the ball well. He’s playing good basketball.”
It’s what Cooley anticipated when Hopkins bought to Queens.
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino addresses the media during the 2025 Big East media day at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 21, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
“Bryce is a really good player,” Cooley said. “We were really fortunate to take him from Kentucky and come into Providence and to go into St. John’s, I think he’s gonna be one of the better players in the country.”
And Pitino is a big cause why.
“I think he’s playing for arguably the best college coach in the history of college basketball in Rick Pitino,” Cooley said. “I think he’s an incredible motivator [and] innovator of the sport. … I think [Hopkins] chose where he could go develop and be the best player he can be and I thought he chose a coach who was gonna push him to be the best player he can be.”
Bryce Hopkins slams house a dunk during St. John’s preseason win over Towson on Oct.18, 2025 at Carnesecca Arena. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Despite his disappointment, Cooley added he had no regrets in not getting Hopkins.
“I don’t think you can ever look in the rearview mirror when you think about recruiting in today’s day and age,” Cooley said. “It’s [about] today. What have you done for me lately? He’s playing for an incredible team, he has this building [MSG] to play in.”
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