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St. John’s basketball: Several programs already contacting LJ Figueroa

By Kevin Connelly

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 18: LJ Figueroa #30 of the St. John's basketball team looks to pass against the Seton Hall Pirates at Madison Square Garden on January 18, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 18: LJ Figueroa #30 of the St. John's basketball team looks to pass against the Seton Hall Pirates at Madison Square Garden on January 18, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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St. John’s basketball transfer LJ Figueroa is already hearing from a number of programs as the wing decides his future.

It should come as no surprise that already a handful of programs have reached out to LJ Figueroa after he made his decision to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday.

Before the St. John’s wing made his decision official, it was already reported that schools have been in his ear about getting an NCAA transfer waiver to be immediately eligible at his next school.

If Figueroa does not get a waiver and does in fact transfer, he would have to sit out the 2020-21 season before completing his final year of eligibility in 2021-22.

ALSO READ: LJ Figueroa shockingly enters transfer portal

The Lawrence, Massachusetts native still has his name in the 2020 NBA Draft, but is considering all options at the moment, even a return to St. John’s, but that does not seem realistic or likely at the moment.

On Wednesday afternoon, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported that Figueroa has already heard from Memphis, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Dayton, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia Tech, UCLA, Auburn, and Samford.

This comes on the heels of Texas Tech landing a commitment from Georgetown transfer Mac McClung, who will also apply for a waiver to be immediately eligible in the 2020-21 season, and UCLA confirming reports that Kentucky transfer Johnny Juzang has received a waiver to be eligible next year.

LJ Figueroa led the Red Storm in 2019-20 with 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 steals per game in his first year under head coach Mike Anderson, and shot 37.9 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from 3-point range.

ALSO READ: Transferring makes the least sense for LJ Figueroa

This marks the second time in two offseason’s that Figueroa has entered the transfer portal, he did the same when the program and Chris Mullin parted ways, only to return to Queens for his junior campaign.

St. John’s finished with a 17-15 record (5-13 Big East) and was in the midst of making a run in the Big East Tournament before the season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.