RJ Luis

carmineabbatiello said:
Then my guess would be pro.
Click to expand...
Where, in Turkey? RJ got punked against Arkansas because he had to play against of team of guys who are as athletic as he is. What do you think will happen in the NBA, or even the G League? He isn't going to out-athlete a lot of guys there.

For RJ to go to the next level he has to learn how to play organized basketball. He has to develop vastly improved judgment about when to pass the basketball, he needs to work on his defensive fundamentals, and he needs to develop a step-back, jab-step or some other move to get his shot off from 3-point land against a defender.

Right now he isn't close on any of those things.

Definitely a reasonable question whether he is better off working on them in college under Pitino or someplace overseas. He will certainly get paid a lot more to do it in college and will probably get better coaching, IMO.
 
RJ has the curse of being a talented player, that was the best player on most of the rosters that he was on. This is a learning process. He will be the best player on our roster if he returns.
 
I mean not to pile on, but a guy who had the ball in his hands a ton went for 2.0 assists per game, which is good for 29th in the league.

For some comparisons:

Corey Floyd, 2.0 APG (same as RJ)
Zuby, 2.2 APG
Garwey Dual: 3.0 APG

Meanwhile he had the SIXTH HIGHEST TURNOVER NUMBER in the league at 2.2.

Ashworth lapped the league at 3.4 TO/G, after that you get:

Micah Peavy 2.6
Malik Mack 2.4
Jamiya Neal 2.4
Jayden Pierre 2.3
Sorber 2.3

Then you get to RJ, tied with Telfort, Dixon and Bensley Joseph at 2.2.

I would say Telfort is the best role/usage comparison to RJ, and he had 3.4 APG, almost double RJ. Bensley Joseph was similar at 3.2 APG.

Dixon was at 2.0 APG same as RJ.

I think it is completely fair to suggest that RJ has room for improvement before he moves on to the next level.
 
Don't want to assume anything at this point, but it only makes sense for RJ to come back to college unless he finds out he will be a late 1st round / early 2nd round pick with a guaranteed contract. He'll make more money through the NIL then he will in the G league, so it won't be a pay for play issue. Likely just boils down to if he wants to play here or if he prefers another school or a maybe richer contract.

Arkansas game aside I did see more maturity in his game this year compared to last year, which I sense has to do with the fact he was actually able to practice. Playing in NY at MSG in a system he knows where he will make really good money should be enough to draw him back for his senior year. Ego could be bruised from the end of the Arkansas game, but that is on Rick and team to explain to him why they did that and hopefully all parties make amends. And if we are on our way to building a bigger and better roster for next year, he'll have a chance to be the crown jewel of a winning team.
 
Knight said:
RJ has the curse of being a talented player, that was the best player on most of the rosters that he was on. This is a learning process. He will be the best player on our roster if he returns.
Click to expand...
I always distinguish the player w the best scoring stats v guy who impacts the games the most
at both ends like Kadary & Zuby did. To me the best player has to acquit himself well in both areas.

I would be happy to see RJ do that and merit your prediction.
 
Last edited:
lawmanfan said:
I mean not to pile on, but a guy who had the ball in his hands a ton went for 2.0 assists per game, which is good for 29th in the league.

For some comparisons:

Corey Floyd, 2.0 APG (same as RJ)
Zuby, 2.2 APG
Garwey Dual: 3.0 APG

Meanwhile he had the SIXTH HIGHEST TURNOVER NUMBER in the league at 2.2.

Ashworth lapped the league at 3.4 TO/G, after that you get:

Micah Peavy 2.6
Malik Mack 2.4
Jamiya Neal 2.4
Jayden Pierre 2.3
Sorber 2.3

Then you get to RJ, tied with Telfort, Dixon and Bensley Joseph at 2.2.

I would say Telfort is the best role/usage comparison to RJ, and he had 3.4 APG, almost double RJ. Bensley Joseph was similar at 3.2 APG.

Dixon was at 2.0 APG same as RJ.

I think it is completely fair to suggest that RJ has room for improvement before he moves on to the next level.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about this earlier. It is clearly an area that would need improvement. In fairness to RJ there were games he had to score for us to win. If he were to stay and surrounded by better shooters he would have every opportunity to improve.
 
lawmanfan said:
Where, in Turkey? RJ got punked against Arkansas because he had to play against of team of guys who are as athletic as he is. What do you think will happen in the NBA, or even the G League? He isn't going to out-athlete a lot of guys there.

For RJ to go to the next level he has to learn how to play organized basketball. He has to develop vastly improved judgment about when to pass the basketball, he needs to work on his defensive fundamentals, and he needs to develop a step-back, jab-step or some other move to get his shot off from 3-point land against a defender.

Right now he isn't close on any of those things.

Definitely a reasonable question whether he is better off working on them in college under Pitino or someplace overseas. He will certainly get paid a lot more to do it in college and will probably get better coaching, IMO.
Click to expand...
serious question, cause I don't really know. but in the g-league or nba, are the players working on their own to develop these skills or are there coaches like he'd have here working with him? I'd think having a coaches like pitino, mass, brown, around him would be more beneficial....
 
lawmanfan said:
Where, in Turkey? RJ got punked against Arkansas because he had to play against of team of guys who are as athletic as he is. What do you think will happen in the NBA, or even the G League? He isn't going to out-athlete a lot of guys there.

For RJ to go to the next level he has to learn how to play organized basketball. He has to develop vastly improved judgment about when to pass the basketball, he needs to work on his defensive fundamentals, and he needs to develop a step-back, jab-step or some other move to get his shot off from 3-point land against a defender.

Right now he isn't close on any of those things.

Definitely a reasonable question whether he is better off working on them in college under Pitino or someplace overseas. He will certainly get paid a lot more to do it in college and will probably get better coaching, IMO.
Click to expand...
Am I generally on your side with regards to RJ? Yes. But I don’t think the assist numbers for him are really something to look at with last years team. His passing improved IMO with still very much room left to grow. If he had averaged 3 assists it would have been looked at as extremely good with the other things he already does well.

Additionally: wasn’t surrounded by shooters. was tasked to be our primary scorer. Played with two guys in top ten in assists.

Guards in the BE with less APG:
Solo ball
Stevie Mitchell
Simeon
Wooga Poplar
 
Amaseinyourface said:
Am I generally on your side with regards to RJ? Yes. But I don’t think the assist numbers for him are really something to look at with last years team. His passing improved IMO with still very much room left to grow. If he had averaged 3 assists it would have been looked at as extremely good with the other things he already does well.

Additionally: wasn’t surrounded by shooters. was tasked to be our primary scorer. Played with two guys in top ten in assists.

Guards in the BE with less APG:
Solo ball
Stevie Mitchell
Simeon
Wooga Poplar
Click to expand...
Fair - it was really the TO numbers that I was focused on. But it is indisputable that the man never met a pass he liked. It would be good for him and his team if he got over that. I view the TO numbers as a direct consequence of the lack of passing which I grabbed Assists as a proxy for, essentially.
 
One issue for RJ is that he was used as a Power Forward part of the year as Scott was in foul trouble often. With Rick considering using Zuby at power forward to expand his skills for pros and Hopkins being a target, RJ could truly be a wing which is a where he needs to be for pros.

While a lot of people have ideas of what he needs to work on, including raising his 3-point accuracy, it might be best for him to go to NBA camp w/o agent and get some pro feedback on likelihood in NBA draft and what he needs to work on.
 
I rewatched the Arkansas game and RJ played very lazy defense and jogged back much of the game. He often did not switch when he was supposed to also. You can see RP and Asst Coaches imploring him often. I have no idea as to why RJ flaked out in this game but I worry that RP worries about trusting him in a big game again. I hope I am wrong because I loved RJ's game all year but something was way off last game. Hope RJ and coach can work through it.
 
Redmen88 said:
I rewatched the Arkansas game and RJ played very lazy defense and jogged back much of the game. He often did not switch when he was supposed to also. You can see RP and Asst Coaches imploring him often. I have no idea as to why RJ flaked out in this game but I worry that RP worries about trusting him in a big game again. I hope I am wrong because I loved RJ's game all year but something was way off last game. Hope RJ and coach can work through it.
Click to expand...
A guy on youtube just posted a video walking through RJ's day. Interesting watch with several things I didn't notice real time. Something had to have been up with RJ; usually plays really hard, but head just wasn't in it.

 
lawmanfan said:
Where, in Turkey? RJ got punked against Arkansas because he had to play against of team of guys who are as athletic as he is. What do you think will happen in the NBA, or even the G League? He isn't going to out-athlete a lot of guys there.

For RJ to go to the next level he has to learn how to play organized basketball. He has to develop vastly improved judgment about when to pass the basketball, he needs to work on his defensive fundamentals, and he needs to develop a step-back, jab-step or some other move to get his shot off from 3-point land against a defender.

Right now he isn't close on any of those things.

Definitely a reasonable question whether he is better off working on them in college under Pitino or someplace overseas. He will certainly get paid a lot more to do it in college and will probably get better coaching, IMO.
Click to expand...
I have no inside knowledge about RJ's plans. A guy wrote that RJ would either come back to us or go pro. So my guess of those two choices would be pro.

Slamming St. Johns best player each season is your thing, right? Weren't you the half of the one and a half board members that hated Daniss?

Mullin, Berry, Luis! Think about that before you get the urge to hit the keys to denigrate the generational star that just led us to our best season in 25 years.

Or instead hit the keys you showed so much promise on as a youth. You could be the next Liberace.
 
Last edited:
lawmanfan said:
I mean not to pile on, but a guy who had the ball in his hands a ton went for 2.0 assists per game, which is good for 29th in the league.

For some comparisons:

Corey Floyd, 2.0 APG (same as RJ)
Zuby, 2.2 APG
Garwey Dual: 3.0 APG

Meanwhile he had the SIXTH HIGHEST TURNOVER NUMBER in the league at 2.2.

Ashworth lapped the league at 3.4 TO/G, after that you get:

Micah Peavy 2.6
Malik Mack 2.4
Jamiya Neal 2.4
Jayden Pierre 2.3
Sorber 2.3

Then you get to RJ, tied with Telfort, Dixon and Bensley Joseph at 2.2.

I would say Telfort is the best role/usage comparison to RJ, and he had 3.4 APG, almost double RJ. Bensley Joseph was similar at 3.2 APG.

Dixon was at 2.0 APG same as RJ.

I think it is completely fair to suggest that RJ has room for improvement before he moves on to the next level.
Click to expand...
Too late.
 
lawmanfan said:
Where, in Turkey? RJ got punked against Arkansas because he had to play against of team of guys who are as athletic as he is. What do you think will happen in the NBA, or even the G League? He isn't going to out-athlete a lot of guys there.

For RJ to go to the next level he has to learn how to play organized basketball. He has to develop vastly improved judgment about when to pass the basketball, he needs to work on his defensive fundamentals, and he needs to develop a step-back, jab-step or some other move to get his shot off from 3-point land against a defender.

Right now he isn't close on any of those things.

Definitely a reasonable question whether he is better off working on them in college under Pitino or someplace overseas. He will certainly get paid a lot more to do it in college and will probably get better coaching, IMO.
Click to expand...
Posts like this really turn me off. RJ had a bad game, case closed. Take that "punked" bullshit out of here, #NuffSaid
 
carmineabbatiello said:
I have no inside knowledge about RJ's plans. A guy wrote that RJ would either come back to us or go pro. So my guess of those two choices would be pro.

Slamming St. Johns best player each season is your thing, right? Weren't you the half of the one and a half board members that hated Daniss?

Mullin, Berry, Luis! Think about that before you get the urge to hit the keys to denigrate the generational star that just led us to our best season in 25 year.

Or instead hit the keys you showed so much promise on as a youth. You could be the next Liberace.
Click to expand...
I love RJ, but a great college player doesn't mean NBA player. There is a reason NBA scouts don't love him and why he is not a projected 1st round pick despite his great season. The most common deficiencies noted by scouts: 3pt shot (much improved at the end of the year), decision making, ball handling, and defense (most say he is too aggressive and gets out of position). RJ led us to our greatest season in a long time. Come back to St. John's young man, work on your game with RP, and turn yourself into a 1st rounder.
 
Here's a thought none of us can know his life situation. And more importantly none of us will be there for him if he say God forbid comes back next year and gets hurt. We all want to think we have "the best interest" of these kids but in fact we are fans with mostly selfish motives.

RJ needs to do what's best for RJ. If that means coming back great. If that means going pro, great too.

My guess is he ultimately comes back but if he doesn't I will not fault him one bit. It's his life not mine.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top