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When Rj Luis Jr., a second-team All-American from St. John’s University, entered the transfer portal in late March, he was immediately flooded with offers. Standing at 6-foot-7 and heading into his junior year, Rj was considered the top prospect in the transfer market. According to those close to him, several major programs — including Kansas, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Indiana — offered starting deals ranging from $3 million to $4 million.
The Changing Financial Landscape of College Basketball Due to NIL
Before the NCAA allowed athletes to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights four years ago, staying in college was seen as a financial gamble for basketball prospects, as injuries could jeopardize their future professional income. Today, however, players can make seven-figure incomes per season through endorsement deals with outside sponsors and booster-funded collectives—groups of alumni and fans who pool resources to support athletes. And on June 6, a federal judge approved a legal settlement allowing schools to directly pay athletes, officially marking the decline of amateurism in major college sports. For many players now, returning to school for a guaranteed paycheck is the smarter move.
Rj Luis Jr’ Unique Position Among NBA Prospects
Especially for a player like Rj—who, unlike projected No. 1 overall pick and Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, isn’t considered a top-tier NBA prospect with a guaranteed rookie salary north of $3 million—the decision is even more consequential. His final college appearance, a rough performance where he shot just 3-of-17 in St. John’s second-round NCAA tournament loss to Arkansas, ended with him controversially benched by coach Rick Pitino, and did little to boost his draft stock. In fact, some mock drafts don’t have him getting selected at all.
Rj Luis Jr Chooses to Stay in the NBA Draft, Passing on Transfer Offers
Still, on May 28, Rj’ agent announced that he would stay in the NBA draft, which he had declared for back in March, choosing not to return to college—an unusual move in today’s NIL era. The decision surprised many. By opting out of the transfer portal, he passed up multimillion-dollar opportunities—Indiana and North Carolina declined to comment, while Kansas and Arkansas didn’t respond before publication. And if he goes undrafted, he can’t return to college ball. But Rj remains confident he made the right call.
Rj Luis Jr on Why He’s Betting on Himself
“I don’t think it’s necessarily a risk,” says Rj, 22, speaking from Charlotte on June 11 before a pre-draft workout with the Hornets, who currently hold the fourth, 33rd, and 34th picks in the upcoming draft (the first round takes place June 25 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, with the second round following the next day). “If I do what I have to do in the NBA, then I can make even way more money than that. So it’s not even about the money. Because if it was, I would have gone back to college. But it’s just trying to set myself up for the future, to be honest. I think I had an amazing year. What better time would it be to go to the next level and pursue my dreams of playing in the NBA?”
Rj Luis Jr’ Confidence and Determination
In other words, Rj is placing a bet on his own potential.
“That’s what I’ve been doing my whole life,” says Rj. “I’ve had countless people telling me what my limitations are. But I end up passing their expectations. So yeah, I’d say I’m betting on myself. I’ll always take me, 100%.”
Family Support and Background
“You’ve gotta set up your plan, man, and stick with your plan,” says Reggie Charles Luis, RJ’s dad, who played professionally overseas in 10 different countries, including the Dominican Republic, Spain, Argentina, North Macedonia, and Germany. “And that’s what we’re doing.”
Rj Luis Jr’ Early Life and Athletic Development
Rj grew up in Miami, where his mother, Verito Luis—who worked at a community center—encouraged him to try a wide range of sports, including soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, and karate. A self-proclaimed late bloomer, RJ says he didn’t start taking basketball seriously until the summer after his sophomore year of high school, when he earned a spot on the Dominican Republic’s U-17 national team for a tournament in Puerto Rico featuring teams from across Central America and the Caribbean. Coming out of high school, he received only a few offers from lower-tier Division I programs. He then spent a post-grad year at a prep school, which helped him land a scholarship to UMass—a mid-major program led by the famously intense coach Frank Martin. “I learned how to play some defense,” Rj says.
Transfer to St. John’s and Playing for Rick Pitino
Following a strong freshman year with the Minutemen in 2022–2023, Rj Luis Jr jumped at the opportunity to transfer to St. John’s, based in the New York City borough of Queens, to play for newly appointed head coach and Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. “I’ve heard a lot of coaches say they work out their guys all the time,” says Rj. “To actually see Coach Pitino keep his word and actually do it, I was very intrigued.”
Injury Challenges During Sophomore Season
Injuries hampered his sophomore season. Rj suffered a fractured hand during the preseason, and nagging shin splints in both legs further restricted his time on the court during practices. “I was just very out of rhythm,” says Rj. Shortly after the season ended—with St. John’s missing out on the NCAA tournament—Rj underwent surgery to address his shin issues and spent roughly three to four months in recovery. “The first month and a half, I couldn’t walk,” says Rj. “My dad actually had to carry me everywhere. I was in a wheelchair. It was pretty bad.”
Recovery and Junior Season Breakout
Once he was mobile again, Rj Luis Jr dedicated part of the summer to working with his father to smooth out a hitch in his shooting form. The extra effort paid off. His junior season was a breakout year—he significantly improved his three-point shooting and led St. John’s to its first Big East regular-season title in four decades, as well as its first conference tournament championship since 2000. His performance earned him Big East Player of the Year honors.
Reviving a Dormant Program on a Big Stage
More significant than any individual recognition, Rj Luis Jr, Pitino—who was named national coach of the year—and the Red Storm helped resurrect a once-proud program that had long been dormant, all on one of the biggest stages in sports: New York City. Throughout February and March, St. John’s drew packed crowds at Madison Square Garden, and even landed a feature on The Tonight Show.
Heartbreaking NCAA Tournament Loss and Bench Controversy
That’s what made the early NCAA tournament exit so heartbreaking, especially for the program’s long-suffering fans. St. John’s entered the tournament as a No. 2 seed in the West region, but was upset by 10th-seeded Arkansas, 75–66, in the second round on March 22. Rj Luis Jr had struggled for most of the game, but with 4:56 remaining, he sank two free throws to trim the deficit to 64–62. For many shooters, simply seeing the ball go through the net—even from the foul line—can be a confidence booster.
“That’s what my mind-set was,” says Rj. “Knocked these two free throws down. Cut it to a one-possession game, try to slow down myself. And, you know, anything can happen in five minutes. This is college basketball.”
Instead, Pitino pulled Rj Luis Jr from the game after his second free throw—and, remarkably, never put his All-American back in.
The move was particularly puzzling given that no one else on the St. John’s roster was stepping up offensively in his absence. The team closed out the game shooting just 2-for-22 from beyond the arc. “I was just shocked and just confused,” says Rj. “I was just trying to stay as calm as possible and not do anything or make it worse.”
Rj Luis Jr’ Expectations for Coaching Support and Reaction
Rj had fully expected Pitino to offer some encouragement and send him back onto the court. After all, motivating and guiding players through tough moments is part of a coach’s job. “He’s done it before,” says Rj. “There have been other games where he’s spoken to me. Obviously I couldn’t make a shot. But the whole team, we were just off. Nobody could make a basket. So I don’t know.” But as the minutes passed, it became clear that Rj’ remarkable season would conclude with him watching from the bench.
Pitino Defends His Decision
Pitino has stood by his decision. On the VICE TV docuseries Pitino: Red Storm Rising, he explained, “It was the right move because of where he was mentally,” and added, “He was forcing shots, and it was affecting the rest of his game … 100% the right decision, not playing Rj Luis Jr in that game, 100%.”
Rj Luis Jr’ Current Relationship with Pitino and Future Plans
Rj says he hasn’t talked to Pitino since early April, around the time he told him he was entering the NBA draft, while also putting his name in the transfer portal as a backup in case he changed his mind. Though Rj naturally disagrees with Pitino’s decision to bench him, he chooses not to criticize his former coach. “Just trying to take the high road and just end it on good terms,” Rj tells TIME, adding that if he had decided to stay in college, he would have returned to St. John’s. Entering the portal was simply about keeping his options open.
Meanwhile, Pitino has publicly praised Rj’ potential. “He’s going to be a great pro,” Pitino said while throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Yankees game in the Bronx in early June.
Draft Prospects and Workout Reports
When asked if the benching affected his draft chances, Rj Luis Jr takes a seven-second pause before responding. “I mean, it probably just brought up those ‘what ifs,’” he says. “Not necessarily hurt, just trying to figure out, like, what did he do to get put in that position?”
Rj, who aims to be the first Ecuadorian-American in the NBA—his mother is from Ecuador and his father from the Dominican Republic—has worked out for about a dozen teams over the past month. He says he performed best in front of the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, and Orlando Magic. He’s tuning out the mock draft boards that show all NBA teams passing on him. “All that stuff is speculation,” he says. “In the past, we’ve seen a bunch of guys, where they have them at a certain number, and they end up not even close to where they’re supposed to be. So I’m really just controlling what I can control.”
Rj Luis Jr’ Confidence in His NBA Readiness
He says teams have told him he’s likely to go in the late first round or early second round, but he’s confident he deserves to be a first-round pick. “One hundred percent,” Rj says. “My game fits the NBA more—just the spacing and the pace of play. I’m still working on my three-point shot, but I’m not worried about that. I know I’m going to get that down.”
Message to NBA GMs and Fans
His message to NBA GMs who pass on him? “They’re missing out,” he says. “And they’re going to have to face me one day.” And for the fans who think he’s making a mistake by turning pro now instead of capitalizing on another year of college? “Thank you for all the support,” he says. “Do not worry about me.”
Source of this article: https://time.com/7294866/rj-luis-nba-draft-interview/