RJ Luis Jr., the standout forward from St. John’s who was named the Big East player of the year and tournament MVP, has announced his decision to enter the 2025 NBA Draft. Despite declaring for the draft, Luis intends to keep his college eligibility and explore options in the transfer portal, as reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. In his junior year, the 22-year-old averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, with a 34% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. His performance helped lead St. John’s to a remarkable 31-5 overall record and secured a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament West region. Although the Red Storm advanced past the first round by defeating No. 15 Omaha, they were ultimately eliminated by No. 10 seed Arkansas in the second round with a score of 75-66. The game was marked by controversy as Head Coach Rick Pitino made the decision to bench Luis for the final five minutes due to his subpar shooting performance. Despite criticism, Pitino defended his choice, citing Luis’s extended playing time and emphasizing the need to explore other options. Luis’s impressive performance throughout his college career has garnered significant attention, with Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor ranking him at No. 57 on his NBA Draft big board. Should he decide to return to college, Luis would likely be a top prospect in the transfer portal. Over his college tenure, Luis has maintained solid averages of 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, with a 31% success rate from three-point range in 85 games played. Prior to his time at St. John’s, Luis spent a season at UMass, where he showcased his talent by averaging 11.5 points as a freshman.
