RJ Luis Jr. Enters Transfer Portal Following NCAA Tournament Benchings – Pitino Responds
St. John’s faces a surprise. Their star wing, RJ Luis Jr., has entered the transfer portal. He has also declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. This move follows a benching in the NCAA Tournament loss. Luis played against Arkansas. He made 3 field goals on 17 attempts. He went 0-for-3 from long range. Because of this, he sat out the last 5 minutes. The game ended 80-72. Rick Pitino supports Luis’s goal for a professional career. The head coach of St. John’s said, "We would not have had the season we had without RJ." He added, "RJ should try and make the NBA. He has reached his potential with us. Now the NBA is calling him, and we are rooting for him." Pitino repeated his support on social media. He trusts that Luis will succeed as a pro.
Experts do not see Luis as a sure first-round pick in the NBA Draft. If he returns to college, his stats will draw attention. Last season, he averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 35 games. In that case, he could earn at least $1.5 million in NIL deals.
At the postgame press conference, many asked about the benching. Pitino gave a clear, short reply. "He played 30 minutes," he said. "That is a long time. He was 3-of-17 and 0-of-3. You are answering your own question. I will not knock one of my players."
Luis did have a small moment in the game. He scored 2 free throws at 4:56 to cut Arkansas’s lead to 64-62. Soon, he was substituted. He ended the night with 9 points, one of his lowest totals this season. After the game, he said, "I let my teammates down."
Pitino’s second season with St. John’s brought big gains. The coach led the team to its first full conference title since the 1984-85 season. The Red Storm ended home play with an 18-0 record. This perfect run shows the progress under Pitino’s guidance.
With the transfer portal open and the NBA Draft near, fans and experts will watch closely. They await what comes next for both RJ Luis Jr. and St. John’s.
