When Rick Pitino listed his starters for the first St. John’s game of the preseason, one omission stood out.

Bryce Hopkins , one of the marquee names in the Johnnies’ touted transfer class, was not among the first five in their Oct. 18 exhibition against Towson.

“He’s trying to be good, and I want him to be great,” Pitino said ahead of that 73-63 win in Queens. “I want him to have a Mamba mentality, and he doesn’t have it. If he develops that, he’ll be one of the premier players in the country.”

The “Mamba mentality,” of course, refers to the alpha mindset made famous by Kobe Bryant.

“He’s been good and solid the entire summer and now,” Pitino said of Hopkins. “I’m not after good and I’m not after solid. I’m after great and passionate.”

Unlocking greatness in Hopkins, a 6-7 forward

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