Daniss Jenkins and Joel Soriano to Participate in Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
Jenkins and Soriano become first St. John’s players to compete in P.I.T. since 2015
Jenkins and Soriano become first St. John’s players to compete in P.I.T. since 2015
QUEENS, N.Y. (April 15, 2024) – St. John’s graduate students Daniss Jenkins and Joel Soriano accepted invitations to compete in the 2024 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (P.I.T.), which runs from April 17-20. The four-day, 12-game competition is held at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Va.
Established in 1953, the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament welcomes 64 of the best college seniors and graduate students from across the nation to compete before representatives of National Basketball Association (NBA) franchises as well as international scouts.
Soriano shined in his time representing the Red Storm, finishing his career as one of only six players to record 1,100 points and 800 rebounds in just three seasons with the program. The 2022-23 BIG EAST Most Improved Player and All-BIG EAST Second Team selection registered 40 double-doubles at St. John’s. Soriano also completed his career in Queens seventh all-time in rebounding with 870 boards and 40th on the program’s scoring chart with 1,150 points. The 6-foot-11 center also ranks third in program history shooting 57.0 percent from the field over his career, trailing only Walter Berry (1984-86, 58.1 pct) and Bill Wennington (1981-85, 57.9 pct).
This past season, Soriano led the Red Storm with 9.5 rebounds per contest to go with 13.8 points per game. Soriano recorded 3.7 offensive rebounds per game, which ranked 11th in Division I. The Yonkers, N.Y., native also set career-highs shooting 57.7 percent from the field and recording 57 blocks. Soriano’s 14 double-doubles were the second highest total in the BIG EAST last season while his 1.7 blocks per game ranked third in the league.
Jenkins was sensational for the Red Storm in his lone season with the program. The 2023-24 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection helped lead the Johnnies to their first BIG EAST Tournament semifinal appearance in 24 years. Jenkins averaged team-highs with 14.9 points, 5.4 assists (3rd in BIG EAST) and 1.6 steals (7th in BIG EAST) per game. The 6-foot-4 guard scored double figures in 28 games, including six 20-point performances.
A native of Dallas, Jenkins finished the campaign ninth among the program’s single-season leaders with 179 assists. Jenkins had eight or more assists in eight games this season, including a season-high nine assists in a win at Butler on Feb. 28.
Jenkins and Soriano helped lead the Red Storm to 20 wins this past season with 11 coming in BIG EAST play, marking the program’s most conference wins since 2010-11. St. John’s won six of its final seven games, including its first BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinal victory since 2000. The Johnnies rolled to a 91-72 victory over eventual NIT champion Seton Hall before falling to eventual National Champion Connecticut, 95-90, in the semifinals.
St. John’s Basketball alumni have enjoyed success at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament over the years. Tyrone Grant was named the P.I.T. Most Valuable Player in 1999 before D’Angelo Harrison was named to the All-Tournament team in 2015.
