The 2025 NBA Draft is not too far off. With teams coming up with their game plan following the announcement of the lottery spots, players are beginning to wonder where they may land. For St. John’s star RJ Luis Jr., he’s sticking to his game plan for right now and not changing anything.
RJ Luis Jr. Remains All-In on NBA Draft, But Fans Question If He Could Get Picked
The former St. John’s star and reigning Big East Player of the Year told ESPN’s Jeff Borzello on Wednesday that he remains “all-in” on staying in the NBA Draft pool. This comes despite entering the transfer portal following his breakout junior season.
St. John’s transfer RJ Luis said he’s “still all-in” on staying in the NBA draft.
The Big East Player of the Year is also in the portal, but he says he hasn’t spoken to any college coaches yet.
“I’m not even thinking about that right now, to be honest.” pic.twitter.com/ulOdavOzzW
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 14, 2025
In a firm statement from one of the most intriguing names in the entire 2025 NBA Draft pool, Luis said “I’m not even thinking about that right now, to be honest,” when asked about any potential college conversations going on.
Luis, a 6’7″ wing with a scoring mentality and two-way versatility, capped off his second season in Queens by averaging 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He also guided Rick Pitino’s Red Storm back to national relevance, earning Big East hardware and NBA attention along the way.
Luis’s decision to enter the portal came as a surprise in early April, but even then, the door to a professional leap seemed wide open. With strong showings in pre-draft workouts and the NBA Combine, his stock could solidify further. He did not reveal a specific timeline for his final decision.
There’s also little indication he’s been fielding college options behind the scenes. While several programs would undoubtedly welcome the chance to land him, Luis has kept the focus on his pro aspirations. After all, the dream for just about everyone in college basketball is making it to the league.
Luis Jr. is participating in this week’s NBA Draft combine at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. He is going to hope to have a good showing to up his draft stock, maybe up to late first round early second. His measurements were listed as 6’5 3/4 barefoot, 210 pounds, a 6’10 3/4″ wingspan and an 8’7 1/2 standing reach.
Following his breakout junior season with the Red Storm, Luis Jr. is listed as a likely second-round pick and is ranked No. 72 in ESPN’s NBA Draft rankings.
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Whether he’s hearing his name on draft night or weighing his options again this summer, it seems clear that Luis is betting on himself. And for now, that bet is all about the league.
