{"id":102210,"date":"2025-06-16T11:19:21","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T11:19:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/102210\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T11:19:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T11:19:21","slug":"st-johns-pitino-says-rj-luis-will-test-nba-draft-waters-is-a-lock-for-big-east-player-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/102210\/","title":{"rendered":"St. John\u2019s Pitino says RJ Luis will test NBA Draft waters, is a \u2018lock\u2019 for Big East Player of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK — Just a month ago, Rick Pitino said it was \u201c100%<\/a>\u201d that junior wing RJ Luis would leave St. John\u2019s to turn pro after this season.<\/p>\n

Now the Naismith Hall of Fame coach says the 6-foot-7 Luis will test the NBA Draft waters and could return for his senior season, thus he won\u2019t participate in Senior Day ceremonies on Saturday. He also said he\u2019s heard from media members that Luis is a \u201clock\u201d for Big East Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a possibility RJ is going to come back, so he\u2019ll test the waters, and if he\u2019s a first-rounder or a guaranteed contract, he should go,\u201d Pitino said ahead of Saturday\u2019s game with Seton Hall <\/a>in which the No. 7 Red Storm could clinch the program\u2019s first Big East regular-season title<\/a> in 40 years. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf he\u2019s not, he should think about staying. Obviously, I hope he stays, but I also hope he goes, because we think he\u2019s a pro, we think he\u2019ll do great at the NBA level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luis, who transferred in from UMass before last season, is averaging 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 40% from the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got tremendous upside,\u201d Pitino previously said of Luis. \u201cHis body, his shot, his game, really lends to the NBA. So he\u2019s got great, great upside, regardless of his age (22).\u201d<\/p>\n

Kadary Richmond<\/a>, Deivon Smith and Aaron Scott will participate in Senior Day ceremonies.<\/p>\n

If the Red Storm returns Luis and junior big man Zuby Ejiofor while adding a few high-level players from the transfer portal, they could be nationally relevant against next season.<\/p>\n

Ronnie Zeidel, a veteran agent and the owner of RZA sports, said Luis would be better off returning to St. John\u2019s next season given the current NIL situation where St. John\u2019s has the backing of billionaire Mike Repole.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s gonna make 10 times as much money in college as he\u2019s going to make in the pros,\u201d said Zeidel, who attended the St. John\u2019s media session Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a no-brainer but who knows what he\u2019s thinking, what his family is thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for his plans, Luis said earlier this month: \u201cMy main focus right now is college, representing the St John\u2019s that I have on the front of my chest, trying to put on for the New York City. <\/p>\n

\u201cOnce the season ends, we\u2019ll get to that. But my full focus is just playing college basketball right now and just trying to win and bring a championship back to Queens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luis, meantime, remains a serious contender for Big East Player of the Year honors alongside his teammate Richmond, Creighton\u2019s Ryan Kalkbrenner and Marquette\u2019s Kam Jones.<\/p>\n

For what it\u2019s worth, my vote would be for Richmond, in part because he has heavily impacted two teams: his former team is close to the bottom and his current team is in first place.<\/p>\n

Asked his thoughts on the matter, Pitino said: \u201cI would say it\u2019s probably if, from speaking to people, it\u2019s a lock for RJ.\u201d<\/p>\n

The coaches vote and an informal poll of several Big East coaches indicated Luis and Kalkbrenner were the two main candidates. The Player and Coach of the Year will be announced March 12, the first day of the Big East Tournament.<\/p>\n

Pitino acknowledged that coaches could split their votes among various St. John\u2019s players and that could \u201churt\u201d them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Zuby is the most valuable player, RJ may be the most outstanding player, and Kadary may be the most clutch player, getting the clutch rebound, the clutch score, the clutch pass,\u201d Pitino said.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cRight now individual awards really don\u2019t concern me as much as team,\u201d the coach said.<\/p>\n

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.<\/p>\n

Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria <\/a>and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n