College basketball had a major storyline in 2025 with the rise of RJ Luis Jr. The St. John’s standout dominated the season, earning Big East Player of the Year honors and positioning himself as a top NBA Draft prospect.
Despite battling injuries, Luis led St. John’s to a historic season, showing resilience, skill, and ambition. Now, the basketball world watches as he declares for the 2025 NBA Draft while keeping his college eligibility and entering the transfer portal.
RJ Luis Jr. Declares for NBA Draft, Enters Transfer Portal
Luis put together an impressive 2024-25 season, averaging 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He played a key role in leading St. John’s to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
His efforts earned him Big East Player of the Year and Big East Tournament MVP honors, proving his ability to impact both ends of the court. But his season ended in disappointment as he was benched for the final 4:56 of a 75-66 loss to Arkansas in the Round of 32 after struggling with a 3-for-17 shooting night.
News of his decision broke on March 29, 2025, when Yahoo Sports reported: “BREAKING: St. John’s RJ Luis will declare for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility and enter the NCAA transfer portal, per @DraftExpress. Luis was the Big East player of the year and tournament MVP this season.”
BREAKING: St. John's RJ Luis will declare for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility and enter the NCAA transfer portal, per @DraftExpress.
Luis was the Big East player of the year and tournament MVP this season. pic.twitter.com/ixWT2Hhzqp
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports)
The dual declaration of entering the NBA Draft while maintaining college eligibility to enter the transfer portal has become a common path in recent seasons. Players enter the pre-draft process to gain information from teams and scouts to inform their decision on whether they want to officially declare for the NBA or re-enter the college game for at least one more season.
Luis’ path to success started at UMass before transferring to St. John’s to play under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. His 2023-24 season was derailed by injuries, including shin splints and a fractured hand. But he returned stronger, leading St. John’s to its first outright Big East regular-season title since 1985 with a 27-4 record.
He was also a leader behind St. John’s single-season program-record-tying 31 wins. As the No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, it was the program’s first dance since the 2018-19 season.
On the court, Luis is a tough defensive wing with the size and agility to guard multiple positions. Offensively, he thrives driving to the basket, though his catch-and-shoot 3-point accuracy remains a work in progress.
Now, with NBA scouts watching, the next step in his basketball journey begins.
