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St. John’s basketball: Transferring makes the least sense for LJ Figueroa

By Kevin Connelly

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: LJ Figueroa #30 of the St. John's basketball team reacts after his teams loss to the Vermont Catamounts at Carnesecca Arena on November 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: LJ Figueroa #30 of the St. John's basketball team reacts after his teams loss to the Vermont Catamounts at Carnesecca Arena on November 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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St. John’s basketball wing LJ Figueroa has entered the transfer portal but transferring would not be the smart thing to do.

The harsh and shocking news dropped on Tuesday morning that St. John’s junior wing LJ Figueroa has entered the transfer portal, but transferring would make the least amount of sense for the potential rising senior.

Figueroa, who still has his name entered in the 2020 NBA Draft, is keeping all of his options open but the Massachusetts native should try and pursue a professional opportunity rather than transfer.

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Zach Braziller of the New York Post reported on Tuesday morning that other programs who reached out to Figueroa, before he made his intentions clear of entering the transfer portal, told the second team All-Big East selection that he could receive a waiver from the NCAA due to the coronavirus and the impact it is causing on the New York City area.

That claim seems inconceivable at the moment, given the NCAA’s hesitation of handing out hardship waivers.

If the NCAA were to give the former St. John’s star a waiver, then it would have to give all athletes in states significantly impacted by COVID-19 a waiver to immediately play in states not as impacted by the virus.

It would cause utter chaos in the sport with decisions being made on if the college basketball season will begin on time in the late summer or early fall.

ALSO READ: LJ Figueroa shockingly enters transfer portal

Without a waiver from the NCAA, Figueroa would have to sit out the 2020-21 season and would have one year of eligibility remaining in the 2021-22 season, making him 24-years old when he would be starting a professional career, something that would not be ideal with NBA teams.

If Figueroa wants to play college basketball staying at St. John’s would be the only decision, but if the 6-foot-6 wing wants to begin his professional career than he will have his options to pick from in the NBA or a career overseas.

St. John’s saw juniors Shamorie Ponds and Justin Simon leave school one year early and most of their time was spent in the NBA G-League, although Ponds played four games, totaling 11 minutes, with the Toronto Raptors this season.

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It’s unlikely for LJ Figueroa to be selected in the 2020 NBA Draft and if the rising senior wanted to improve his draft stock, the logical choice would have been to return to St. John’s for one more season, but if he thinks his stock is not going to get any higher, than he should try to jumpstart his professional career either overseas or in the G-League.