St. John’s search for frontcourt depth culminated Tuesday night in a commitment from Portuguese forward Ruben Prey.
But the 6-foot-10 forward with a 7-2 wingspan isn’t just another body.
In time, he could be a difference-maker for coach Rick Pitino, a European scout and European journalist familiar with Prey told The Post.
Some consider him an NBA prospect down the road.
“I really do believe he will make a splash right away. … He’s a guy that can contribute immediately, because he’s been playing against men for three years at the top level,” Ricardo Brito Reis, a EuroLeague announcer who has also worked with the Portuguese national team, said in a phone interview Wednesday. “He’s definitely ready to play in the NCAA.”
St. John’s had recruited the 19-year-old Prey for a year.
He nearly joined the team last season, but opted to stay overseas and play for Joventut Badalona, the Spanish club team he’s been with since the age of 14.
St. John’s remained in contact with Prey, and he opted to make the move this week.
It sees him as someone who can play both the 4 and 5, enabling St. John’s to play big on occasion with either Zuby Ejiofor or USC transfer Vince Iwuchukwu at center.
Prey has previously played on multiple junior national teams for Portugal and was the MVP of the 2023 Adidas Next Generation Tournament.
He averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in two games in the FIBA Eurobasket 2025 Qualifiers for Portugal’s senior national team.
Playing for Joventut Badalona of the Liga ACB, the top league in Spain, he averaged three points and three rebounds in 12 minutes per game.
On Joventut Badalona’s backup team CB Prat, which plays in the third league in Spain, he posted 11.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 24.8 minutes.
Ignacio Rissotto, who covers international youth basketball events for FIBA and specializes in international NBA prospects, said one of Prey’s strengths is his ability to put the ball on the floor and can be a weapon in pick-and-rolls as a roller or in pick-and-pop situations.
A European scout, who requested anonymity, raved about Prey’s motor, and ability to get up and down the floor for someone his size, frequently beating other centers downcourt.
“Best thing is he can run the court like crazy,” the scout said. “For the transition game, he’s unbelievable. He’s 6-10, 6-11 and he can run like a guard.”
The 210-pound Prey does have to put on some muscle.
The scout said consistency is sometimes an issue, and his perimeter shot needs work.
But he clearly has a high ceiling. BYU, Kentucky and Nebraska were also interested in him, according to sources, but St. John’s had the inside track based on the past dialogue between the two parties.
“He’s a 6-foot-10 guy with great speed, lateral movement, he can defend multiple positions. He’s a good rim protector,” Brito Reis said. “Offensively, he’s very versatile. He can dribble, he runs the floor really well — he’s a great rim-runner — and when they have to play half-court, he’s a guy that can play both outside or inside, [with his] back to the basket. He has to develop his left-hand dribble, but he has great court awareness and he’s developing his 3-point shot.”
Added Rissotto: “St. John’s got someone with a really high ceiling.”