Theo Edema, our No. 1-ranked prospect in New England’s Class of 2027, has committed to St. John’s, he announced on Sunday.
The Cushing and Team England 7-foot center will reclassify into the 2026 class and join coach Rick Pitino and the Red Storm for next season. He chose the Johnnies over Maryland, Stanford and BYU.
Edema made the announcement surrounded by his Team New England coaches and teammates during the Puma Pro16 live period in Tulsa, Okla.
Edema – who was nationally-ranked in the 2027 class – was our NEPSAC Class AA Defensive Player of the Year this season after anchoring Cushing to the NEPSAC championship. He averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks per game this winter as one of the region’s premier rim protectors, capable of changing games with his defensive impact, instincts and unique size.
Born in Nigeria, Edema had little basketball playing experience – and maybe only a year of playing organized hoops – when he moved to the United States three years ago. Cushing coach James Cormier was uncertain initially if Edema could become a high-major prospect because he was so raw. At the beginning, he was a project.
But the big man quickly made major developmental leaps. Practicing regularly against the likes of physical bigs like Jacob Davis and Frederik Jellum coupled with his own coachability, adaptability and high IQ helped him acclimate to high-level NEPSAC and grassroots basketball and ultimately put him on a high-major path as he continued to grow into his body and unique skillset.
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“He had all the character qualities, he demonstrated significant intangibles and all things that were going to translate to success, but the skills, the ability to process and make reads and understand the game, sometimes kids really struggle with that if they don’t have any experience growing up from a young age playing the game,” Cormier said. “I think that’s where Theo is so unique. He’s so coachable, he trusts, he believes, he buys in and as a result, he just got better so quickly and he’s a competitive kid, so the bigger the environment and the better players you put against him, the quicker he’s going to develop. That ultimately is why we thought it was best for him to go (now).
“He deserves all the credit. If you don’t trust the process and believe and buy in, then it doesn’t matter who’s coaching you, it doesn’t matter where you’re playing, but that’s where I give him a ton of credit.”
Edema should have a chance to play right away as a freshman at St. John’s.
“His ability to process and make reads is so high level and now he needs to continue to fine tune the skills. Scoring around the post, his footwork, his touch around the rim, those are things he has to rep over and over in a college environment and you’re going to see another big jump from him,” Cormier said. “I think Pitino and (his) staff will be super impressed with his ability to roll and be in the seam and understand where the tags and rotations are coming from. … Now it’s like, delivering the pass on time, on target with the left hand, with the right hand, fine tune stuff, that’s what he has to clean up. But I think he has a real feel for his position. …
“I think physically, he’s going to have a chance to play right away because he has an unbelievable frame and when he gets in a college weight room, he’s grown a ton here and got big and strong, but there’s another level of resources and emphasis on that aspect of the game. I also think his instincts defensively, his ability to time blocked shots, his ability to hedge in ball screens, the way he communicates on the floor, his rotations, he does all that at a high level. That’s winning basketball. He’s going to be able to at least get out there and get stops and then offensively, he’s not going to turn the ball over, he has a nose for the ball, he hunts rebounds out of his area. Rebounding, defending and taking care of the ball are three things you need to do to win.”
Cormier is proud of how far Edema has come not only on the basketball court, but as a beloved member of the community outside the sport. He leaves Cushing with a bright future in New York but with a lasting legacy in New England.
“He’s absolutely the best story in my tenure here,” Cormier said. “The impact he’s had on the community, the relationships he’s been able to build on campus, in the program, the way he’s grown as a leader. I just went last week to see him act in a play, he’s featured in the visual arts magazine, he makes jewelry here, he’s a proctor in the dorm. …
“He comes from Nigeria, he had no clue what he was getting himself into and he’s an easygoing, lovable guy who’s loved by so many people here on campus and couldn’t be more grateful we had the chance to coach him. Obviously winning the championship was icing on the cake this year, but at the end of the day, it’s about this type of story where you’re developing a kid, you’re giving him opportunity, he takes advantage of every moment on and off the floor and he is like the exact standard of what we’re looking to do at Cushing and within our program.”
