Red Storm fans got a sense of how quickly things can change in the transfer portal era on Saturday afternoon, where even the most unthinkable moves can happen.
Weeks after leading St. John’s to their first Big East Tournament title since 2000 and becoming the first Red Storm player to win the conference’s Player of the Year award since Walter Berry in 1985, RJ Luis Jr. is declaring for the NBA Draft and entering the transfer portal.
Head coach Rick Pitino commented on Luis’s decision to New York Post’s Zach Braziller, effectively stating that Luis’s time in Queens is over and that he expects Luis to go pro.
Rick Pitino on RJ Luis: "We would not have that season we had without RJ, but I do think RJ should try and make the NBA. He's reached his potential with us. Now I think the NBA is his calling and we're rooting for him to make the NBA." #sjubb
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) March 29, 2025
In 35 games played and 32 starts, Luis averaged a team-best 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while hitting 43.6% from the field and 33.6% from three. Along with winning the Big East Player of the Year award, Luis was named a unanimous Big East First-Team honoree and a consensus second-team All-American.
Luis’s tenure with the Red Storm ended on an abrupt and sour note. The standout wing shot 3-of-17 and was benched for the final 4:56 of game action in the Red Storm’s 75-66 upset loss to Arkansas in the second round of this year’s NCAA Tournament. When asked why the St. John’s star was benched in a tight game late during last Saturday’s postgame press conference, Rick Pitino told reporters, “You already know why he didn’t play.”
"He played 30 minutes and I went with other people."
Rick Pitino explained why RJ Luis was on the bench in the second half. pic.twitter.com/6zdbcZXb8f
— CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) March 22, 2025
Luis faced harassment on social media for his performance and deleted his Instagram account one day after the Red Storm’s season-ending loss, but has since re-activated his account.
After Luis’s transfer portal entry, St. John’s now has ten scholarship players for the 2024-25 season as of March 29, including All-Big East first team center Zuby Ejiofor who is returning to the Red Storm for his senior year.