St. John's University Athletics
RJ Luis Jr. Selected as Naismith National Player of the Year Semifinalist
3/14/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
St. John’s wing was previously named 2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year on Wednesday
NEW YORK (March 14, 2025) – St. John's men's basketball standout RJ Luis Jr. has been named a 2025 Jersey Mike's Naismith National Player of the Year Semifinalist, the organization announced on Friday.
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The junior wing was one of 10 players to be listed as a semifinalist and one of three representatives from the BIG EAST Conference joined by Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Kam Jones of Marquette. The Naismith National Player of the Year award will be announced during the 2025 NCAA Tournament Final Four in San Antonio.
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Luis has starred for the Red Storm under Head Coach Rick Pitino, helping lead the Johnnies to a 28-4 overall record and an outright BIG EAST Regular Season title, the program's first in 40 years. On Wednesday, the Miami native was tabbed 2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year and is averaging 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
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An elite three-level scorer, the 6-foot-7 playmaker has reached double-figures in 30 of his 31 appearances this season. Luis has logged 12 20-plus point outings, including four straight and six in his last eight contests. The wing is the first Red Storm player to log four or more consecutive 20-plus point scoring efforts since Shamorie Ponds tallied seven in a row during the 2018-19 campaign.
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A disruptive defender and capable rebounder, Luis has recorded nine double-double efforts this season, most recently a 28-point, 11-board outing in an overtime win at then-No. 20/20 Marquette. Luis ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in rebounding averaging 7.1 boards per game and has logged 9.0 rebounds over his last two games.
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 In addition to being named the conference's player of the year, Luis was selected unanimously to the All-BIG EAST First Team, a Sporting News Third Team All-America selection, a Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year finalist and many earned more accolades this season.
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Luis and top-seeded St. John's will meet fifth-seeded Marquette in the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. on FOX.
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The junior wing was one of 10 players to be listed as a semifinalist and one of three representatives from the BIG EAST Conference joined by Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Kam Jones of Marquette. The Naismith National Player of the Year award will be announced during the 2025 NCAA Tournament Final Four in San Antonio.
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Luis has starred for the Red Storm under Head Coach Rick Pitino, helping lead the Johnnies to a 28-4 overall record and an outright BIG EAST Regular Season title, the program's first in 40 years. On Wednesday, the Miami native was tabbed 2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year and is averaging 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
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An elite three-level scorer, the 6-foot-7 playmaker has reached double-figures in 30 of his 31 appearances this season. Luis has logged 12 20-plus point outings, including four straight and six in his last eight contests. The wing is the first Red Storm player to log four or more consecutive 20-plus point scoring efforts since Shamorie Ponds tallied seven in a row during the 2018-19 campaign.
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A disruptive defender and capable rebounder, Luis has recorded nine double-double efforts this season, most recently a 28-point, 11-board outing in an overtime win at then-No. 20/20 Marquette. Luis ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in rebounding averaging 7.1 boards per game and has logged 9.0 rebounds over his last two games.
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 In addition to being named the conference's player of the year, Luis was selected unanimously to the All-BIG EAST First Team, a Sporting News Third Team All-America selection, a Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year finalist and many earned more accolades this season.
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Luis and top-seeded St. John's will meet fifth-seeded Marquette in the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. on FOX.
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