Ex-St. John's star RJ Luis on cusp of NBA draft possibilities he once couldn't have imagined
Forget playing in the NBA. Even big-time college basketball was far from a given.
Advertisement
Luis held just two Division I scholarship offers, from Northeastern and Lamar University. He didn't want to settle, so the Miami native opted to do a prep year at Mount Zion Prep in Maryland.
That's when everything changed.
'Once I went to prep school, I kind of made that jump and started to figure out myself and my work ethic,' he recalled in a phone interview with The Post. 'Everything just clicked. Since then, it's been a gradual [climb], improving and getting better as a player.
Advertisement
'I wouldn't change it. The stuff that we go through in life is what makes us. It's just super cool to see all my hard work paying off.'
The former St. John's star is on the cusp of a professional career, a projected second-round pick in this week's NBA Draft.
He worked out for 18 teams and took part in the scouting combine in Chicago.
The past few months have been a whirlwind for the 6-foot-7 wing.
Advertisement
3 RJ Luis Jr. handles the ball during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine on May 15,
2025
NBAE via Getty Images
In March, he became the first Johnnie to be named the Big East Player of the Year since Walter Berry in 1986. He led St. John's to its first Big East Tournament title since 2000 as the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
Afterward, he called it the best week of his life.
But the following weekend, second-seeded St. John's was upset by Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and Luis struggled through a nightmarish 3-for-17 shooting performance.
Advertisement
He was benched over the final 4:56 by coach Rick Pitino.
3 RJ Luis Jr. shoots a three point basket during the 2025 NBA Draft
Combine on May 14, 2025 at Wintrust Arena.
NBAE via Getty Images
Luis declared for the NBA Draft and entered the transfer portal a week after that disappointment.
There was some thought he could return to school — top transfers were getting upward of $3 million — but Luis opted to stick with his initial plan of going pro.
'The money in the NBA is night and day compared to college. It wasn't a hard decision,' Luis said. 'My goal was to do the same thing at St. John's my sophomore year, but injuries held me back. I think I had an amazing year this year. [This was] ultimately the end goal, to play in the NBA and stick there.'
Luis has been a much-debated prospect in this draft. Teams like his athleticism, versatility and scoring ability. But his 3-point shot and decision-making need work. He will have the ball in his hands less frequently on the next level.
3 St. John's Red Storm guard RJ Luis Jr. reacts after hitting a 3-point shot during the team's opening NCAA Tournament game.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
'It's a tough thing, but he's gotta go from a star on his team to a role player,' an NBA scout familiar with Luis said. 'Tough transition, so he's probably going to have to get some G-League reps, and go from there. Be a consistent shooter.
Advertisement
'Is he one of the best 75 draft prospects in this draft and is he one of the best 500 players in the world, where he should be on some kind of NBA contract?'
Said a second scout: 'He's going to have to make some modifications to his game. He's a two-way guy for sure, because he can score the ball. But he has to learn to score the ball on my terms, as opposed to his.'
Luis has been somewhat of a target since that Arkansas loss. He was criticized for that performance and later questioned for not cashing in on his last year of college eligibility. He's heard the doubters.
Advertisement
'One hundred percent, but that's how life is. You're always going to have people rooting against you,' Luis said. 'I'm fully positive. I know the amount of work I put in.'
Luis has come a long way from those two Division I scholarship offers. His first season at St. John's was marred by injuries, a fractured left hand and nagging shin splints. He wasn't able to do much basketball-wise last summer following surgery on each shin, but still had a sensational junior season, leading the Johnnies to their best season in 25 years. If he is selected, he would become St. John's first player to hear his name called since Sir'Dominic Pointer (53rd overall by the Cavaliers) in 2015.
'It would be the same thing as winning the regular-season championship and Big East Tournament and getting a bid to the [NCAA] Tournament,' he said. 'To be able to leave my little bit of a legacy at St. John's, just make that fan base proud.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Lakers jersey history No. 3 — Anthony Brown
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary. As the Lakers approach their 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years. In this article, we take a look at Anthony Brown, a forward who once had a brief stint with the Lakers. A native of Southern California, Brown headed up north to play for Stanford University after leading Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach to a CIF Southern Section championship. In his fifth year with the Cardinal, he averaged 14.8 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. The Lakers took him in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft. He appeared in 29 games with them during the 2015-16 season and averaged 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in 20.7 minutes a game. Brown stuck around in the NBA for two more seasons and played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves. He would go on to have numerous short stints with pro basketball teams overseas, and in July, he signed with Beşiktaş Gain, a pro team in Turkey.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic Says He'd Choose Dirk Nowitzki's Fadeaway As His Dream Signature Move
Luka Doncic Says He'd Choose Dirk Nowitzki's Fadeaway As His Dream Signature Move originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Luka Doncic is carving out his own legacy on the Lakers, but when it comes to signature moves, he's still paying homage to the legend who came before him. During a recent appearance on Bilibili, Doncic was asked which iconic move from another NBA player he would most want in his arsenal. His answer was quick, respectful, and invoked some heavy emotions from the Mavericks fans who detest his departure. 'I would take the Dirk Nowitzki fadeaway as a signature move,' Doncic said. It's a fitting tribute to Nowitzki, whose one-legged fadeaway helped define a generation and led the Mavericks to their first NBA title in 2011. According to Dirk, the move originated out of necessity as he got older and his legs began to wear down. As he was losing strength and mobility, Dirk was determined to create a move that he could use to shoot over defenders and conserve energy as his athleticism declined. Nowitzki, being 7'0" tall, decided to use his height to his advantage, and it's how he came up with the idea to do his signature one-legged fadeaway. Besides being a beautiful shot, it was also very effective. When he pulled it off properly, nobody could get a hand on the ball, effectively ensuring that it would at least make contact with the rim. It helped Dirk build an iconic NBA career as a 14x All-Star, 12x All-NBA player, 1x champion, and former Finals MVP. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023 with career averages of 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game over 21 years. For Luka, incorporating Dirk's go-to move into his arsenal would only enhance his game, but their connection is more than purely professional. For the first six and a half years of his career, Luka Doncic was Dirk's successor, and Dirk was his mentor. In just a few short years in Dallas, Doncic ascended to legendary status for the Mavericks with multiple All-Star appearances, frequent MVP considerations, and averages of 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game on 47.0% shooting. He developed a personal connection with not only the city of Dallas but also Dirk Nowitzki himself. Dirk passed Luka the torch, hoping he'd lead them back to glory. Sadly, the Slovenian superstar never got the chance to see it through. Without warning, the Mavericks traded him in a blockbuster deal to Los Angeles, and everything changed in one fell swoop. While separated, Dirk continued to support Luka and was even in attendance during his Lakers debut. Now with the Lakers, Luka is on a revenge tour, out to prove Dallas made a mistake letting him go. Whatever happens, Dirk will be watching and cheering him on as if he never left Dallas in the first place. Whether he's wearing a Mavericks jersey or a Lakers uniform, Luka Doncic's story is forever linked to Dirk Nowitzki. From signature moves to shared history, their bond represents the passing of the torch between generations of European greatness. Now, as Luka writes the next chapter of his career in Los Angeles, he'll carry a piece of Dirk with him in the way he approaches the moment. Even from afar, Dirk will still be there, watching as the player he once mentored tries to build his own legend, one step at a story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Report: Miami Heat Interested in Acquiring Former First-Round Pick
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Miami Heat haven't been able to add a whole lot of talent this offseason outside of swinging a trade for Norman Powell, but they may have another move up their sleeve before the start of the 2025-26 NBA campaign. More specifically, they are looking for frontcourt depth. Grant Afseth of Fastbreak Journal has reported that the Heat have expressed interest in multiple big men, and among them is former Utah Jazz first-round draft pick Trey Lyles. More news: Report: Heat, Nets Pull Off Surprising NBA Late-Offseason Trade "Trey Lyles and Kai Jones are among various players sources can confirm have drawn interest this summer," Afseth wrote. "The search for additional depth comes after an offseason in which Miami addressed its perimeter rotation, but has since moved on from Kevin Love and Haywood Highsmith in trades." Lyles spent the last three-and-a-half seasons with the Sacramento Kings. Last year, he played in 69 games, primarily in a bench role. During that time, he averaged 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds over 19.6 minutes per game on 42.0/34.0/70.0 shooting splits. Erik Spoelstra, head coach of the Miami Heat, reacts during the third quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 4 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Erik Spoelstra, head coach of the Miami Heat, reacts during the third quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 4 in New Orleans, 29-year-old's percentages obviously weren't pretty last season, but he has an extended history of serving as a more than adequate floor spacer up front and made 38.4 percent of his three-point attempts as recently as 2023-24. Lyles, who played his collegiate basketball at the University of Kentucky, was originally selected by the Jazz with the 12th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft. He spent the first two years of his career in Utah before being dealt to the Denver Nuggets in a 2017 draft night deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to the Jazz. The Nuggets certainly regret making that move, even if Lyles had a very productive debut campaign in the Mile High City when he logged 9.9 points and 4.8 boards a night on 49.1/38.1/70.6 shooting splits. Lyles has definitely been well-traveled throughout his professional career, also spending time with the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons before heading over to the Kings in a midseason trade during the 2021-22 campaign, the only season in which Lyles averaged double figures throughout his NBA tenure. The Canadian native owns lifetime averages of 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while making 44.1 percent of his shots, 34.7 percent of his triples and 74.1 percent of his free throws. More news: NBA Exec Drops Major Update on Potential Chicago Bulls Trade Even if Lyles may not have materialized in the way that some anticipated when he made the jump to the NBA a decade ago, he remains a solid rotational piece and could definitely help a playoff-contending team like the Heat. Miami went 37-45 last season, falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. For more on the Miami Heat and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
