RJ Luis Jr.’s first season at St. John’s didn’t go as he hoped.
The high-scoring guard struggled to remain wholesome all through that 2023-24 marketing campaign after transferring from UMass as a sophomore to affix Rick Pitino in Queens.
A damaged hand delayed Luis’ St. John’s debut final season, whereas nagging shin splints restricted his manufacturing and in the end required surgical procedure this previous offseason.
What a distinction a 12 months made.
Luis was named the Large East Participant of the 12 months for 2025 on Wednesday after his breakout season helped lead the Crimson Storm to a 27-4 document and their first outright regular-season convention championship since 1985.
The 6-7 junior’s 18.1 factors per recreation ranked fourth within the Large East within the common season, whereas his 7.1 rebounds ranked sixth. His size and athleticism have been key elements in St. John’s boasting one of the best protection within the convention.
That’s after Luis averaged 10.9 factors and 4.6 rebounds in 23 video games, together with 10 begins, final season.
“I think it’s mostly me being healthy,” Luis mentioned in November after a quick begin to the season. “Just the person that I am, I put a lot of work into my craft. Now I’m stepping up as one of the best defenders. … I’m gonna play-make. I’m gonna score. I’m really just playing both sides of the ball.”
The finalists for Participant of the 12 months have been the six gamers who made the All-Large East first staff.
Becoming a member of Luis on that record was teammate Zuby Ejiofor, who was named the convention’s Most Improved Participant after averaging 14.1 factors and eight.2 rebounds per recreation.
The opposite finalists included Creighton heart Ryan Kalkbrenner, who averaged 19.4 factors, 9.0 rebounds and a pair of.7 blocks per recreation and received Large East Defensive Participant of the 12 months for a fourth time; and Villanova ahead Eric Dixon, who left the convention in scoring at 23.6 factors per recreation.
Luis capped his Large East Participant of the 12 months candidacy with a 28-point efficiency in Saturday’s 86-84 time beyond regulation win at Marquette. He scored at the least 21 factors in 5 of the Crimson Storm’s ultimate seven video games, together with every of the final three.
“It would be a blessing to receive the award,” Luis mentioned Saturday. “I think it would be an honor. What I did from last year to this year, just my transition with my surgery and everything like that, I think it’s a pretty awesome story.”
Initially Printed: March 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM EDT
