By M. Marlay
Campus News
On March 10th, 2025, the Saint John’s Men’s basketball team held a fan meet and greet at the Applebee’s located in Fresh Meadow. Where fans got the chance to not only meet some of the players and get their autographs but were also given the opportunity to win a basketball that was signed by the entire team. If the line out the door signified anything it was a massive success. But it wasn’t just a fan favorite, this reporter got the chance towards the end of the event to talk to the players and get what their take on the whole event was.
Deivon Smith, Senior and Guard for the team, stated, “I mean, it's amazing, just your hard work showing off, you know, having diehard fans and loyal people to the community and the team is super special. It keeps us going, keeps us grounded, you know, we get to take time out of our days to be here and spend time with y'all, so it's kind of cool.” This sentiment was shared by Simeon Wilcher, who is a Sophomore and Guard for the team.
According to Wilcher his favorite part of this event is, “Just to have an opportunity to connect to people that support us the most, like St John's fans are like no other, especially when it's going well, it is great to be able to connect to them, and be able to sign autographs for them and do these things for them. It makes us feel more down to earth.”
And this certainly has been an excellent season for the team. They led in the Big East Conference with an 18-2 conference record and a 31-5 overall record. They also made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament, where they sadly lost to Arkansas on March 22nd, 75-66.
Wilcher also believes that events like this are great for the community because, “I feel like it gives fans the opportunity to actually meet the players and see how they are off the court.” And Wilcher is not the only player on the team that feels events like this benefit the community.
Aaron Scott, Senior and Guard/Forward for the team, stated, “It's good to get the community, involved, and all the fans involved… You know sign autographs. It’s good for the community.”
Scott played on the Saint John’s basketball for the first time this season having spent three previous seasons playing for the University of Northern Texas, where he earned the following honors: 2024 Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball Magazine's All-Texas Honorable Mention, 2022 Conference USA All-Freshman Team, the November 13th 2023 American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, and C-USA Freshman of the Week three times in 2022 (January 3rd, 10th, 24th).
Scott told this reporter, “The best part about being on the team, is just being in New York and just having all the fans root for us.”
The players did not know if there would be further meet and greet events like this one, but according to Scott, “I think it would be great if they did, especially after all the one the work we've been doing. So, I think it would be great.”
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