St. John’s RJ Luis Jr. Named Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist

NEW YORK (March 14, 2025) – RJ Luis Jr., a standout wing for St. John's men’s basketball, has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Jersey Mike’s Naismith National Player of the Year Award, the organization announced on Friday. This recognition follows Luis being honored as the 2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year earlier this week.

Luis is among 10 semifinalists and one of three selected from the BIG EAST Conference, alongside Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton and Kam Jones of Marquette. The Naismith National Player of the Year will be revealed during the NCAA Tournament Final Four in San Antonio.

The junior from Miami has played a pivotal role in leading the Red Storm to a 28-4 overall record and their first outright BIG EAST Regular Season title in 40 years. He is currently averaging 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

“Once he got over the shin injuries, we knew he’s got a great vertical,” St. John’s Head Coach Rick Pitino said of Luis. “He’s a good shooter, a great passer, very good on-the-ball defender, very good rebounder, runs well. He’s got the total package.”

Luis has demonstrated his scoring ability throughout the season, reaching double figures in 30 of his 31 games and recording 12 games with 20 or more points. His recent performances include four consecutive games scoring above 20 points, the first Red Storm player to achieve such a streak since Shamorie Ponds in 2019.

On the defensive end, Luis has also made an impact, logging nine double-doubles, with his latest being a standout performance of 28 points and 11 rebounds during an overtime victory against then-No. 20 Marquette.

In addition to the conference’s player of the year accolade, Luis was unanimously selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team and was recognized in several national award categories, including the Sporting News Third Team All-America selection and a finalist for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year award.

St. John’s is preparing for the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals, where they will face off against fifth-seeded Marquette on Friday night at 6:30 p.m., broadcasted on FOX. The game will be a critical test for the top-seeded St. John’s team, as they aim to continue their success in the tournament.

On the coaching front, Pitino has also been recognized as a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award, marking him as the only BIG EAST coach in that category. This follows a successful season where he has steered the Red Storm to a remarkable 27-4 regular season record, including an impressive 18-2 in conference play.

As they approach tournament play, both Luis and Pitino hope to make history with the Red Storm, as St. John’s has yet to see a player or coach awarded the Naismith honor. The award winners will be announced next month during the NCAA Tournament.