RJ Luis shocked the college basketball world last week when he put his name into the transfer portal while also declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Rick Pitino has said all season that Luis would make a great pro and his comments since Luis’ decision have continued to be positive in the Big East Player of the Year’s direction about his NBA prospectus.
However, there is the possibility that Luis will withdraw from the draft and return to college, but it won’t be with the Red Storm.
“He will not be back with us,” Pitino said in the VICE TV season finale of Pitino: Red Storm Rising.
“I personally think it would be a mistake for him to come back to any school,” Pitino added. “I think he should try to make it in the NBA.”
RJ Luis was benched for the final 4:56 of St. John’s loss to Arkansas in the Round of 32 during the NCAA Tournament. It was a decision that sparked heated debate around the country as a Second Team All-American sat on the sidelines with his team trailing by just two points and its season in the balance.
Still, Pitino said he has no regrets about his decision.
Luis had just nine points in the loss on 3-of-17 shooting but finished the season averaging 18.2 points per game on 43.9-percent shooting.
Right now, Luis is not on many NBA Draft boards and would be a second-round pick, if he gets selected. Returning to college for what would likely be at least a million-dollar NIL deal could be the better business decision instead of trying to latch onto an NBA franchise on a two-way contract or through the NBA G-League.
“As an athlete, you want to compete at the highest level,” Luis said in the episode. “The next step is definitely going to declare for the NBA Draft, then try to live out my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.”
The series noted Luis’ decision to enter the transfer portal but there were no comments from the Miami native about the situation.
“Truly grateful for Coach Pitino,” RJ Luis continued. “What I’ve accomplished this year doesn’t happen without him. No matter what happened in the tournament, they can’t ever take away those two championships that we won.”
Now, everyone waits for Luis’ decision on whether to remain in the NBA Draft or return to college and play for a different school.