To the massive delight of Bears fans everywhere, star small forward from St. John’s University. Why he’s doing it It’s largely uncharted territory but he’s officially declaring for the NBA Draft while entering the transfer portal. This, despite the fact that he turned in one of the better performances in memory in the Big East tournament championship game a week ago. This phenomenal performance made him a consensus top three prospect in the draft.
During his final season at St. John’s, Luis Jr. earned accolades that include being named the Big East Player of the Year and a second-team All-American. He impacted the game in a big way on both sides of the floor. He averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in those contests per game. His significant growth as a defender and shotmaker has turned a lot of heads among NBA scouts.
And at 6’7”, Luis Jr. is pretty darn tall. His two-way versatility on the wing would have most of America’s elite programs clamoring for a commitment. After making the decision to leave St. John’s, he sparked the interest from a number of high major programs. North Carolina, Kansas, Ole Miss, Villanova, and Georgetown are all reportedly in the mix, highlighting his ranking as one of the top players in the NCAA transfer portal.
Luis Jr. started his college career at UMass before transferring to St. John’s in 2023. In his inaugural season with the Red Storm, he finished with an average of 10.9 ppg. He collected 4.6 boards a night, highlighting his two-way upside right from the jump. He really stood out through this last campaign. On the season, his best performances were a 28-point, 11-rebound game against Marquette in the regular season finale and a 29-point, 10-rebound performance against Creighton in the Big East conference tournament.
The announcement of his entry into the NBA Draft is a big step in Luis Jr.’s still budding basketball career. His eye-popping numbers and awards from last year speak for themselves. Consequently, he’s established himself as one of the top candidates for elite professional prospects in next summer’s draft.
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