LJ in Transfer Portal?

On the outside this looks like a bad thing, but sometimes, there's addition by subtraction. As another poster said everyone counted the team out when Heron got hurt last year, and they actually played better. If LJ was just coming back to with only 1 goal of bolstering his draft stock and wanted the team to be centered around him, it may not have worked out anyways.

Also, I had always thought that someone between Williams and Cole was going to get the raw end of the deal with LJ returning as far as minutes. Now this opens it up with both of them being day 1 starters and getting big minutes.

And I agree with staff, they don't really need to fill the last scholarship, at this point, the player pool is extremely limited, you don't want to just grab a guy just to grab one if he isn't going to play. I think the roster is still strong enough to be around 5/6 in the Big East next year and make the tournament. If they do fill the last scholarship, maybe grab a guy with some potential that has to sit out a year, so he can learn the system.

Updated Projection:
Dunn / Posh / McGriff
Williams / Wusu
Cole / Caraher
Champaigne / Earlington
Toro / Roberts / Moore
 
LJ was one of my favorite players in recent memory. I'll miss him more defensively than offensively. I know he regressed last year offensively but he was still one of our only guys capable of getting some buckets when we really needed them. That being said...

This was really handled poorly on his part. It's unfortunate that he leaves in a way that seems to be a disservice to both himself as well as the program. Wherever he ends up, I can't imagine he stays unless he gets a waiver. Why not just transfer last year? Or why not just stay in the draft, try to get a summer league contract and sign overseas now? No way he sits and waits to get paid for another 3 years possibly. And I get that St. John's thought this could be a possibility but this is the 2nd year in a row that Coach has been exceedingly patient and supportive while LJ went through his process. At the very least LJ should have the awareness to realize how his timeline and choices might affect his teammates and coach. He's not a high school kid. He's a 22 year old young man.
 
William is doing better must must up his outside shooting or he jeopardizes his mins guess that could be said of Dunn also. Next recruiting class we still need a legit C and continue our search for shooters
 
[quote="Duke of Earlington" post=388016]When we lost heron last year most thought the sky was falling, We were actually a much better team w/o him., Same thing will happen here.[/quote]

Agreed.

I like LJ and would have been happy to have him on the team because I think he's a good complimentary piece. But I've never seen a guy take as many HORRIBLE shots as a "lead" scorer.

Not the end of the world for him to go but it's bad form for him to do this after Salnave committed to DePaul. I'm not going to buy the notion that this was a decision made in the last 5-7 days.
 
Also Coach should not take LJ back even if he changes his mind. One year in the portal is totally fine. New coach, gotta explore your options, I get it. If a guy does it two years in a row though, he doesn't want to be on the team. If he came back guys would be publicly supportive but in the back of your mind you'd know that your team leader tried to leave town twice. He's not all in and that means he's got to be out even if we slip a couple of spots in the standings. We're at the start of building something and that takes precedent over one guy's wandering desires.
 
[quote="Ray Morgan" post=388048]With LJ likely leaving, the team has lost 4 steals a game (including the 2 with Rutherford's graduation). For a team that relies a big part on defense for their offense, that's where losing LJ will likely hurt us...[/quote]

Only if you think the new guys coming in won't be able to steal the ball.

Posh, Wusu, Cole...all good defensive players. I wouldn't be surprised if we have more steals this year than last. This is a deeper team that is more athletic.
 
Source close to LJ Figueroa: "Everything is on the table." Meaning NBA, G-League, overseas, transferring. #sjubb
Zach

Tiring
 
Looking at it from the outside, it seems like LJ handled this poorly. I agree these kids have to look after their own best interest, but they should also learn how to do things the right way. In this case, I think LJ could have taken care of himself and been more considerate of his coach, teammates and St. John's. That said, I should acknowledge that I don't know everything that happened behind the scenes.

At this stage, I am sure he knows exactly where he is going. We should know very soon. Keep an eye on Maryland, who is very active in the market for a grad transfer forward.
 
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[quote="JohnnyFan" post=388059]Looking at it from the outside, it seems like LJ handled this poorly. I agree these kids have to look after their own best interest, but they should also learn how to do things the right way. In this case, I think LJ could have taken care of himself and been more considerate of his coach, teammates and St. John's. That said, I should acknowledge that I don't know everything that happened behind the scenes.

In any event, at this stage, I am sure he knows exactly where he is going. We should know very soon. Keep an eye on Maryland, who is very active in the market for a grad transfer forward.[/quote]

I agree with your first paragraph about LJ handeling this better. I do not think he is a grad transfer so he would not be immediatly eligible without a waiver.
 
[quote="JohnnyFan" post=388059]Looking at it from the outside, it seems like LJ handled this poorly. I agree these kids have to look after their own best interest, but they should also learn how to do things the right way. In this case, I think LJ could have taken care of himself and been more considerate of his coach, teammates and St. John's. That said, I should acknowledge that I don't know everything that happened behind the scenes.

At this stage, I am sure he knows exactly where he is going. We should know very soon. Keep an eye on Maryland, who is very active in the market for a grad transfer forward.[/quote]

LJ is not a grad transfer.
 
Where is LJ going to end up? I mean, mcclung has some ok options but I do not even see LJ getting those type of teams interested. Its not like Michigan State of Kansas is going to come after him.

Maybe a mid tier ACC team like NC state or a mid tier SEC team?
 
I think LJ is a fantastic full court player but the only way this is not a scumbag move is if he wants to transfer to a MA school to be close to his family. All things considered if that happened I would not begrudge him one bit for it. It is crazy times and there is a lot of anxiety about the future. A lot of kids don't want to go back to school at all.

I'm all for players having the freedom to transfer at will. I don't even think they should have to sit out with maybe the only exception being if conferences (not the NCAA) want to set some rules in conference. But you also do it in a way that doesn't hose your current team. If this has been on the table for months then the right move was sooner than later.
 
[quote="usguard" post=388053]William is doing better must must up his outside shooting or he jeopardizes his mins guess that could be said of Dunn also. Next recruiting class we still need a legit C and continue our search for shooters[/quote]

Keep in mind, Williams was injured early in the year with a bad back. His last 4 games of the regular season he Averaged 33+min a game, 14+ppg. He was 9-19 (47.4%) inside the arc and 12-20 (60%) from deep.
This kid is just coming into his own. I'll be shocked if he's not starting as a Jr.
 
[quote="fan5577" post=388060][quote="JohnnyFan" post=388059]Looking at it from the outside, it seems like LJ handled this poorly. I agree these kids have to look after their own best interest, but they should also learn how to do things the right way. In this case, I think LJ could have taken care of himself and been more considerate of his coach, teammates and St. John's. That said, I should acknowledge that I don't know everything that happened behind the scenes.

In any event, at this stage, I am sure he knows exactly where he is going. We should know very soon. Keep an eye on Maryland, who is very active in the market for a grad transfer forward.[/quote]

I agree with your first paragraph about LJ handeling this better. I do not think he is a grad transfer so he would not be immediatly eligible without a waiver.[/quote]

Yes, you're right, it does not appear that he is a grad transfer. I was thinking he was originally from Maryland, but just checked and it is Massachusetts.
 
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Suspect he'll try hardship waiver route and if that doesn't work leave wherever he transfers to and play overseas or in G league.

Wish LJ well but agree with Queensball that he should be in team's rearview mirror at this point.
 
Maybe he wants to sit for a year. Let the virus play out. He'll go to a school that isn't under house arrest like here in NYC. He'll play in front of actual fans and scouts, rather than empty arena's .

He's not going to get in the first round of any NBA draft while the city goes through a dress rehearsal for a police state.
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=388066]Suspect he'll try hardship waiver route and if that doesn't work leave wherever he transfers to and play overseas or in G league.

Wish LJ well but agree with Queensball that he should be in team's rearview mirror at this point.[/quote]

According Dave, on the other site, LJ is taking extra classes to graduate and be immediately eligible. Apparently done without telling academic advisor. Who really knows.
 
From the beginning, I was one of LJ's staunchest supporters. I watched him in practice before his first season here and knew that he would be an asset to our team.

Am I disappointed that he is leaving, definitely. That being said, all I can do is thank him for the two years that he played here and wish him the best in all of his future endeavors, on and off the court.
 
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