Former St. John’s basketball forward LJ Figueroa has received his NCAA eligibility waiver.
After a long wait, former St. John’s basketball standout LJ Figueroa can now play with the Oregon Ducks.
In a video posted to the official Oregon Men’s Basketball Twitter, Figueroa announced he is now eligible for the 2020-21 season following the Ducks’ first game of the year.
Ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll, Oregon fell to Missouri, 83-75, without Figueroa and star Will Richardson, who will miss at least six weeks after surgery on his hand.
He’s ready.
— Oregon Men's Basketball (@OregonMBB) December 3, 2020
L.J. Figueroa has been cleared by the NCAA, and is now immediately eligible.#GoDucks #AlwaysUs pic.twitter.com/MnYzBxG5CD
The Lawrence, Massachusetts native shockingly left Queens prior to his senior year to land in Eugene, Oregon and was planning to use the pandemic in his case to become immediately eligible.
Perhaps not in the way he intended, but the pandemic was a major reason why the 6-foot-6 wing was granted eligibility as the NCAA has been processing almost all transfers prior to the season.
ALSO READ: Biggest takeaways from St. John’s season thus far
The NCAA also announced that this year will not count against any players eligibility, so it did not make sense for Oregon’s newest star to have to sit out in 2020-21.
Playing two seasons with the Red Storm, Figueroa averaged 14.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 44.3-percent from the floor and 37.3-percent from 3-point range.
Former St. John’s basketball standout returns for familiar foe
Perhaps to the dismay of Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard, LJ Figueroa will have his first game with the Ducks be against the Pirates in a multi-team event in Omaha, Nebraska.
Figueroa played Seton Hall four times during his St. John’s career and averaged 13.0 points per game, but last season the then junior averaged 17.5 points per game against the Pirates.
ALSO READ: St. John’s continues makeover amid scheduling chaos
Willard had a 3-1 record against the Johnnies with Figueroa on the squad.
Oregon and Seton Hall will tipoff at 9:00pm EST in the CHI Health Center Omaha on Fox Sports 1.