You ever watch a player and just know they’re different? Not just "good for college" or "decent athlete," but someone who has that weird, intangible magnetism on the court? That’s RJ Luis St John’s basketball in a nutshell. Honestly, if you haven’t been paying attention to what happened in Queens over the last year, you’ve missed one of the most chaotic, brilliant, and polarizing individual seasons in Big East history.
He didn't just play for St. John's. He basically was the Red Storm’s identity under Rick Pitino.
The Breakthrough Nobody Predicted
Most guys who transfer from UMass don’t end up as the Big East Player of the Year. It’s just not the typical trajectory. But RJ Luis Jr. isn’t exactly a "typical" player. When he arrived in Queens, he was coming off a solid freshman year in the A-10, but he was plagued by these annoying, lingering shin injuries that kept him from finding a real rhythm. People knew he was talented, but "talent" is a dime a dozen in the Big East.
Then 2024-25 happened.
He turned into a 6-foot-7 nightmare for opposing coaches. He averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, but the stats don't even tell half the story. It was the way he did it. He’s got this throwback mid-range game that feels like it belongs in the 90s, mixed with the kind of vertical explosiveness that makes you hold your breath whenever he’s trailing on a fast break.
Why the 2025 Season Changed Everything
- The Big East Crown: For the first time in 40 years, St. John's took the outright regular-season title. Luis was the engine.
- Clutch Gene: He dropped 29 points in the Big East Tournament final.
- The Defensive Versatility: Pitino constantly raved about his "total package," specifically his ability to guard three or four different positions.
But here’s the thing: it wasn't all sunshine and Gatorade showers.
The Rick Pitino Factor
Playing for Rick Pitino is sorta like being in a pressure cooker that’s also on fire. It’s intense. Pitino is famous for his "tough love," and RJ Luis got a heavy dose of it. We saw the peak of this during the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
St. John's was playing Arkansas in a high-stakes elimination game. Luis, the reigning conference POY, was having a nightmare of a night. He went 3-for-17 from the field. Total disaster. In the final five minutes of the game—the most important minutes of the Red Storm's season—Pitino benched him.
He sat the Big East Player of the Year in the crunch.
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The media went nuts. Fans were screaming. Pitino’s response was classic Rick: "You know why he didn't play. You saw the 3-for-17." It was a brutal reminder that with RJ Luis St John’s era, performance was the only currency that mattered. Luis, to his credit, took it on the chin. He told reporters he felt like he let his teammates down. It was a humanizing moment for a guy who spent most of the year looking invincible.
Is He Actually a Pro?
After the college season wrapped, the NBA hype was real. He’s got the measurables—a nearly 6-foot-11 wingspan and a 38-inch vertical. That’s pro-level stuff. However, he went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Wait, what?
Yeah, the league was worried about his 3-point consistency (he shot around 33.6% from deep) and those medical red flags from his earlier years. But the Boston Celtics saw something. They signed him to a two-way deal in the summer of 2025. He even showed flashes in the preseason, putting up a quick 4 points in just 3 minutes against Memphis.
He ended up getting waived by Boston in October 2025 to make room for Ron Harper Jr., which feels like a setback, but it’s really just part of the "undrafted grind."
The Current Reality
- G-League Life: He’s been working his way through the system, looking to prove his jumper is for real.
- The St. John’s Legacy: In Queens, he’s already a legend. You don't win POY and snap a 40-year drought without getting your name etched into the school's history.
- Physicality: At 215 pounds, he already has the frame of an NBA wing.
What’s Next for RJ Luis?
If you're following his career now, you're looking for one specific thing: the shot. Everyone knows he can get to the rim. Everyone knows he can rebound and defend. If that 3-point percentage ticks up toward 37% or 38% in the G-League, he’s back on an NBA roster by next season.
He’s a "reluctant passer" sometimes—that’s the scouting report, anyway. He has that "scorer’s mentality" where he thinks every possession should end with him shooting. At St. John’s, that worked because they needed his 18 points a night. In the pros, he has to learn to be a "connector."
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Shooting Splits: Keep a close eye on his corner three-point percentage. That is his ticket back to the league.
- Defensive Intensity: Watch if he stays engaged when his shot isn't falling. Pitino always said his defense was his foundation, and he needs to prove that wasn't just "college effort."
- Revisiting the 2025 Tape: If you want to see what a dominant college wing looks like, go back and watch the St. John's vs. UConn highlights from January 2026. He played like a man possessed against the defending champs.
The RJ Luis St John’s chapter might be closed, but the professional story is just getting into the complicated middle parts. He isn't a finished product, and that’s honestly the most exciting part about him.