RJ Luis

[firestorm]

I loved RJ and will root for him wherever he goes, as long as it is not UConn. I thank him for an amazing season and we will miss him but I fully expect Pitino and company to field just as good if not better squad next year! The season we had the sold out MSG we will no longer have any issues getting big time kids to want to come here.

If you're going to insist on being mature about this...

 

[MJDinkins]

However you read it, his benching, right or wrong, and his off game vs Arkansas is a subtext here. If RJ scored 25 in the loss and played well, it's a different story. But he didn't and the stark reality is he disabled his social media account after being showered with hate.

I agree with most of your post, but RJ was mainly showered with hate from degenerate gamblers and folks who had the Johnnies advancing to the second weekend of the tournament (who also likely had plenty of cash on us advancing).

 

[19854ever]

Cant find the thread on here talking about this. But an awful blow to the program.

 

[paultzman]

Cant find the thread on here talking about this. But an awful blow to the program.

Look under RJ Luis thread

 

[19854ever]

where would rj stand in the current 2025 nba draft projection ?

 

[redmaninalbany]

I agree with most of your post, but RJ was mainly showered with hate from degenerate gamblers and folks who had the Johnnies advancing to the second weekend of the tournament (who also likely had plenty of cash on us advancing).

IN MY VIEW, The reality is St John’s (Rick) didn’t want him back or he would be coming back. We can match any $$ in NIL, but not for a guy “we “decide to bench in the final moments of an NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME because he plays his way not the planned way. . That was the death knell ringing.

 

[Jack Williams]

Yeah but RJ situation IMO is different. First the money will eventually come for a talented kid like RJ (worst case he can make a ton overseas after he graduates) and should not be the main motivator, he can defer money for a year. Yes there are 1,000 kids entering the portal but RJ is a nationally recognized player under a HOF coach who had a nationally televised game for all to see how it went down. If CRP sat him down and said you need to leave then I do not blame him as he has no other choice to make (I hope CRP did not actually do this). But if he is making this decision b/c he has his feelings hurt then it shows he can't take the heat and to me is a blow to his rep on the pro level that also hurts his NBA chances. There are many sharks out there getting into his head and it takes quite the discipline and maturity to make the right decision. This is a unreasonable gamble move by RJ.

I am all for the portal b/c we are transfer central when it comes to players. Yes, I am upset RJ is leaving but lets be real we are not losing a Artest or Mullin like player (for the record I was 2 young to have seen Mullin play at SJU so 2 me Artest is the King). The roster next year will be fine with or without him.

Idk this reads to me as a St. John’s fan thinking this situation is a special case just because he’s a St. John’s player. There are many stars around the country who have entered the portal. Kids with comparable stats to RJ and with probable similar pro aspirations

It’s very easy for us, from our couches, to say the “money will eventually come”. Making and sticking in the NBA is incredibly tough. The paychecks for overseas basketball probably don’t come near the money that is going to get offered to RJ in the portal over the next 4 weeks. For him and his family, the mentality simply isn’t and shouldn’t be “well the money will come eventually”. we can’t say that for sure.

 

[mkras99]

Two things can be true at the same time:

1. R.J. leaving is a big loss; and

2. We may be a better team next year without him depending on how the roster plays out.

Loved (mostly) watching him play here and wish him the best, but far more focused on the kids who will be wearing St. John’s red next year.

 

[Roamer]

Idk this reads to me as a St. John’s fan thinking this situation is a special case just because he’s a St. John’s player. There are many stars around the country who have entered the portal. Kids with comparable stats to RJ and with probable similar pro aspirations

It’s very easy for us, from our couches, to say the “money will eventually come”. Making and sticking in the NBA is incredibly tough. The paychecks for overseas basketball probably don’t come near the money that is going to get offered to RJ in the portal over the next 4 weeks. For him and his family, the mentality simply isn’t and shouldn’t be “well the money will come eventually”. we can’t say that for sure.

I think it’s a special case because of the media coverage we have gotten this season. But yes of course I am bias pro- SJU.

Yes I also don’t know what actual numbers are involved. If he is being offered $5 million dollars to play somewhere else and we are at $1 million then it’s hard to justify turning that down my post was more of a holistic view. I am privileged enough to say that when you elect to only chase money it’s usually not the right choice.

 

[Eric]

I agree with most of your post, but RJ was mainly showered with hate from degenerate gamblers and folks who had the Johnnies advancing to the second weekend of the tournament (who also likely had plenty of cash on us advancing).

I promise it wasn’t me!!!

 

[fordham96]

Rick was dropping hints early in the year when he declared who he knew he had to replace for "next season." He said he "expected" RJ to go pro along with losing Kadary, Aaron, Deivon....

There was some hedging later but Rick was always planning on putting next year's roster together without him.

 

[bamafan]

Look under RJ Luis thread

You should have been a detective

 

[kranmars]

I love sarcasm and like to think of myself as a bit of an expert in the subject.

And because of that, I would like to nominate this thread for the “Sarcasmys”.

 

[anerdyblackguy]

Or perhaps advancing in the Ncaa's was a top priority.

Then leaving the coach who has multiple NCAA championships is probably not the smart move

 

[Redenbacher]

Rick was dropping hints early in the year when he declared who he knew he had to replace for "next season." He said he "expected" RJ to go pro along with losing Kadary, Aaron, Deivon....

There was some hedging later but Rick was always planning on putting next year's roster together without him.

So when Pitino said 2 weeks ago that RJ was “not going anywhere” that was was just a giant head fake? I don’t buy it.

 

[Moose]

So when Pitino said 2 weeks ago that RJ was “not going anywhere” that was was just a giant head fake? I don’t buy it.

Anything that comes out of his mouth has to be taken with a grain of salt. Most have known it for decades. Some are experiencing it first hand now.

 

[fordham96]

So when Pitino said 2 weeks ago that RJ was “not going anywhere” that was was just a giant head fake? I don’t buy it.

Not buying what?

 

[Redenbacher]

Not buying what?

I’m not buying that 2 weeks ago Pitino knew he’d be replacing him.
But then again, maybe that explains the benching.

 

[fordham96]

I’m not buying that 2 weeks ago Pitino knew he’d be replacing him.
But then again, maybe that explains the benching.

He has been planning on it and the benching had zero to do with it.

Redirect Notice

 

[Bobby123]

I guess when you look at it - if we paid say RJ 500k and Zuby 250k last year - we really maximized the value of our investment and got a great deal.
This year they are both worth and asking 7 figures.
Zuby at a million plus - Rick has to have him
and they locked him up.
RJ at 2 million — will not be able to get 3 more players with that spend and his style of play will not maximize this type of investment. Sometimes it is difficult to teach BB IQ
Rick knows he will not win the NCAA tourney unless he gets 3 portal players.