St. John’s fans should appreciate RJ Luis while he’s here.
Rick Pitino is anticipating the dynamic junior wing going pro when this season is up.
The reigning Big East Player of the Week, the 6-foot-7 Luis has taken a big leap this year as the Johnnies’ leading scorer at 17.5 points per game.
He’s also averaging 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. But Pitino doesn’t expect Luis to return for a senior season.
“RJ is going to try to go pro,” Pitino said on Friday as St. John’s prepared to face Seton Hall Saturday night. “They’re all going to try to make it and move on. And that’s the nature of the business.”
Pitino was initially asked if it was possible that Deivon Smith could return next year, because he sat out a portion of last season as he waited for his eligibility to be approved as a multiple-time transfer.
He then brought up Luis after saying Smith intends to go pro.
Pitino did say the decision would be up to Luis, who isn’t on many mock drafts.
“He’s got tremendous upside,” Pitino said. “His body, his shot, his game, really lends to the NBA. So he’s got great, great upside, regardless of his age [22].”
After meeting with a specialist on Wednesday, sophomore wing Brady Dunlap will attempt to strengthen the areas around his torn abdominal muscle with the hopes of returning this year.
It’s an hour-and-a-half of core work every day.
He’s also dealing with a torn UCL in his left thumb, but that is almost fully healed.
Ultimately, Dunlap will likely need surgery.
The plan is for him to rehab for the next two to three weeks and then reassess if returning is realistic.
The trailer for a VICE TV documentary following St. John’s, entitled Pitino: Red Storm Rising, was released on Friday.
It’s a six-part series that will first air on Feb. 11, from 10-11 p.m., with new episodes weekly.
It is a behind-the-scenes look at Pitino’s second season with the Johnnies.
“I would not do this at Kentucky or Louisville,” Pitino said. “I’m doing it to promote St. John’s. So of course, anything to promote the program … is good for St John’s, because it’s been missing for a lot of years. So anything’s good, any publicity that’s positive, is good for St. John’s, and that’s why we’re doing all this stuff.”