St. John’s guard Quinn Ellis cleared by NCAA; Keyshawn Hall also gets good news in eligibility case

The New York Daily News reported on Tuesday that the NCAA has cleared St. John's guard Quinn Ellis to participate in the 2026-27 season. Additionally, a Queens judge has ruled in favor of forward Keyshawn Hall, allowing him to play for the university until a final decision is made on his preliminary injunction request. This news comes just before St. John's is set to host Drexel in an exhibition game at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday night.

Ellis, a 6-5 point guard from England, has previously played in the EuroLeague. Hall, who transferred from Auburn, averaged 19.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during his sophomore season with the Tigers. However, he was not granted grandfather status for the NCAA's new five-year eligibility rule, which was implemented in June. Hall, who was not drafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, played for the Miami Heat in the NBA's Summer League on a non-guaranteed contract.

Hall's commitment to St. John's was solidified after the Red Storm lost 6-9 forward Donnie Freeman to a season-ending Achilles injury. Other players, such as Babacar Sane, who is eligible until his next hearing on November 9, may also be cleared for play. Sane transitioned from the NBA's G League to signing with the Utah Jazz in 2024 but has yet to play in an NBA game.

The clearance of Ellis is particularly significant for the Red Storm, as it secures a play-making point guard that was in short supply last season. Head coach Rick Pitino expressed his excitement about Ellis' arrival, praising his playmaking abilities, size, and shooting skills. St. John's aims to build on its recent success by securing a third consecutive Big East regular-season and conference-tournament championship, despite the need to replace the production of drafted players Zuby Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, and Dillon Mitchell.