St. John’s star declares for NBA Draft, enters transfer portal

St. John’s star R.J. Luis won’t be back with the Red Storm next season.

The reigning Big East Player of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Tournament will declare for the NBA Draft and enter the transfer portal, his agent Sam Permut of Roc Nation confirmed to NJ Advance Media.

It was first reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

The 6-foot-7 Miami native averaged 18.2 points 7.2 rebounds in his second year under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino as the Red Storm won the Big East regular-season title and the Big East. Tournament.

Luis struggled while shooting 3-of-17 in St. John’s second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Arkansas, and Pitino benched him for the final few minutes.

“You know he was 3 for 17,” Pitino said. “You know he was 0 for 3 [from deep]. I’m not going to knock one of my players.”

After getting harassed by fans on social media, Luis deleted his Instagram.

The Red Storm are also losing Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith and Aaron Scott to graduation, but are adding Arizona State transfer Joson Sanon via the portal.

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.