Junior Pink Storm guard RJ Luis Jr., who has helped lead St. John’s to its first outright Large East regular-season title in 40 years, takes a shot at some Q&A with Publish columnist Steve Serby.
Q: The primary staff assembly earlier than the season started, what did coach Rick Pitino inform the staff?
A: He simply informed us that he envisioned one thing particular. From the start, he all the time mentioned the sky’s the restrict. He simply mentioned we simply have to give attention to protection.
Q: When Coach Pitino informed you that the sky was the restrict, what’s the restrict? Outline what the sky is.
A: I don’t like to talk forward of time, however undoubtedly [a] nationwide championship is what all people strives to achieve and achieve.
Q:. What’s it like to have the ability to dream about chopping down the nets and profitable a nationwide championship?
A: It’s type of now not a dream, it’s extra of like one thing that’s achievable. And now you consider truly the potential for doing it, in comparison with final yr, we had been simply dreaming about, oh, like hopefully you make the event. I used to be simply speaking about it the opposite day with one of many coaches, I’m like, “Now we’re talking about what seed we want.” It’s loopy to see the transition from one yr to 12 months 2.
Q: What was the low level following your shin surgical procedure final yr?
A: It was most likely like a month into the surgical procedure. I couldn’t stroll on my own, couldn’t rise up. I felt like helpless in a approach, ’trigger I wanted any person to assist me on a regular basis. The ache was insufferable. I couldn’t sleep, needed to like up the dosage on the drug so I may simply fall asleep.
Q: What was your worst concern?
A: I didn’t suppose I used to be gonna be as athletic. Like I assumed I used to be gonna lose my step. And I’m most likely extra athletic than I used to be the yr earlier than.
Q: What’s the largest impediment you needed to overcome post-surgery?
A: The largest impediment was most likely enjoying all through the entire season damage.
Q: How damage?
A: Simply making an attempt to place myself on the market doing regardless of the staff wanted me to do although if it affected me in the long run with my shins. It was laborious, making an attempt to pop a few Advils, some painkillers to attempt to assist it a bit bit. The adrenaline helps, however after these video games, I used to be in loopy ache. So my schedule final yr was I’d take the day without work earlier than the sport, after which take the day without work after the sport. So I used to be by no means training, I by no means did the shootarounds.
Q: So nobody noticed the true RJ final yr?
A: There have been simply glimpses final yr.
Q: So how does it really feel now to be within the operating for Large East Participant of the 12 months and Julius Erving Small Ahead of the 12 months?
A: For the Large East Participant of the 12 months, I believe it’s a blessing. I believe I’ve completed so much to indicate why I ought to win it, simply with the ability to assist carry St. John’s to the promised land, like they’ll say, although we haven’t completed something but. However regular-season championship hasn’t been completed in 40 years … went undefeated at dwelling, hadn’t been completed in 94 years. I’ve been doing so much for my case. After which clearly, the Julius Erving award, that’s truly type of humorous ’trigger I went to his alma mater, UMass, my freshman yr, and Coach P. truly went to UMass as effectively, that’s his alma mater. I by no means met [Erving], possibly hopefully if I win that one too I may meet him.
Q: Coach P. says you’ll be a greater professional than faculty participant.
A: I 100% agree. I simply suppose the move of the sport within the NBA, there’s much more area … quicker tempo. I believe my sport would adapt extra to that. In faculty there’s no 3-second defensive rule within the paint, so guys may like load up on you and play the gaps, and clearly within the NBA there’s much more area. I believe my sport will flourish extra within the NBA, however proper now if I preserve capturing the ball how I’m capturing, I believe my sport’s gonna take one other stage in faculty as we head as much as the Match and March Insanity.
Q: Why do you want the large moments within the large video games?
A: I don’t know learn how to clarify it, however I undoubtedly really feel like on the finish of a sport, like I’m the one which needs to be taking the final shot for us to win. I don’t suppose there’s something cocky with that or something. I don’t really feel any strain to do it, I’ll assume the duty if it goes in, if it doesn’t.
Q: Why do you suppose that’s?
A: It comes with the sport, you’re gonna make some photographs, you’re gonna miss some photographs. I really feel like you may’t beat your self up for making an attempt to win the sport. The whole lot you do is to attempt to win the sport. No person purposely misses a shot to lose.
Q: Describe your on-court mentality.
A: Simply attempt to be one of the best participant on the ground, on each side of the ball. I believe this season I’ve been making some large strides, take into account myself top-of-the-line two-way gamers within the nation.
Q: In 2021 on social media you wrote: “Coming for every single thing they said I couldn’t have.”
A: I used to be in a unique headspace, I simply felt I used to be very assured in myself and I simply knew that this yr my prep faculty [Mt. Zion, in Seabrook, Md.] may change my life, so I simply mentioned I’m coming for each single factor that I deserve.
Q: How is that totally different out of your headspace now?
A: Oh, it’s the identical, it’s most likely even higher simply confidence-wise. Most likely my headspace final yr was fairly low simply because I didn’t apply, I used to be damage on a regular basis. I broke my hand, I used to be affected by the shin splints. It was fairly irritating simply making an attempt to be myself, the participant I envision in myself. However this yr I’ve all the arrogance on the earth realizing that God has blessed me to be wholesome once more.
Q: What’s it like for you guys enjoying protection the best way you guys play protection and what’s it like for the opposite staff?
A: I believe it’s enjoyable at this level, simply because we all know how a lot success we’ve with it. We go so laborious in apply, and we go up and down, so whenever you’re within the sport, you might have tons of adrenaline, so at instances you don’t even really feel drained.
Q: Do you suppose you’re the best-conditioned staff within the nation?
A: I’d throw it up there, ’trigger we do press, we press so much. I’d truly wish to press extra simply because we get the opposite groups very chaotic. If you press, you velocity ’em up, and so they could make extra errors.
Q: What are practices like?
A: It’s all up and down. The whole lot is stay. He doesn’t cease and lecture us for 20 to half-hour, it’s simply steady basketball, so we’ll go up and down like 4, 5 instances, and he’ll say one thing, like a bit fast one thing, after which we’ll carry on going. It’s type of such as you’re studying on the fly.
Q: Are the practices tougher than a few of the video games?
A: I believe they’re extra tiring. Our practices get aggressive, however the Large East is a superb league high to backside. I really feel like each time any person performs us they wish to give us their finest shot, particularly ’trigger we play within the Backyard, all people desires to carry out there.
Q: St. John’s is now “the hunted.”
A: It’s a terrific feeling, however we’ve to only keep humble. Though we’re on the highest proper now, doesn’t imply we are able to’t go to the underside. Nothing is solidified, in order that’s how he must method each sport.
Q: As “the hunter”?
A: Yeah, as “the hunter.”
Q: What makes Coach P. a Corridor of Fame coach?
A: Very real … cares so much about his gamers. … I believe simply his data of the sport is second to none. And actually his means to adapt to totally different generations, I believe that provides him a one-step ahead on all the opposite coaches. He’s very hip to what’s occurring and stuff like that.
Q: What would you say drives him?
A: Actually, I couldn’t inform you. I believe he’s previous making an attempt to hunt success for himself, however extra about making an attempt to place others in place to achieve success.
Q: What drives you?
A: Simply making an attempt to be one of the best participant that I may very well be, and clearly sooner or later realizing that me enjoying this sport I’ll have the ability to handle my household … attempt to give again to them.
Q: A few of your teammates: Kadary Richmond.
A:. He’s a facilitator, playmaker … and he can rating the ball.
Q: Zuby Ejiofor.
A: Energetic … performs laborious … performs with ardour. He provides all of it out on the ground each sport.
Q: What’s he like as a roommate?
A: He’s very chill. Clear man, organized man. We like to hang around so much, play the online game generally. We watch a number of faculty basketball, however he’s extra into the NBA, he likes to observe a bunch of NBA video games. I activate the NBA when it’s playoffs. It’s type of an out-of-body expertise, it’s like as soon as I acquired to varsity, all I take into consideration is faculty.
Q: Deivon Smith.
A: He’s one of many quickest guys I’ve ever performed with. He’s additionally very energetic. He modifies the tempo of the sport, and he’s additionally a terrific level guard.
Q: Simeon Wilcher.
A: I believe Sim has a number of potential. He’s very proficient. He’s shooter. I would like him to be extra aggressive on offense.
Q: Aaron Scott.
A: That’s your 3-and-D. He performs protection, he performs his butt off, he hustles and he can knock down the 3-ball.
Q: Sadiku Ayo.
A: Love that child. Very humble child, he works laborious. He’s stepped up and he’s been enjoying nice and I’m very comfortable for him.
Q: RJ Luis.
A: Very aggressive, pushed, hard-working, playmaker, and simply very versatile.
Q: You and your teammates had been on “The Tonight Show.”
A: By no means been on a TV present like that, so it was fairly cool to be there with my teammates.
Q: Why do you put on No. 12?
A: I truly tried to get 21. I wore 21 all through highschool and prep faculty. As soon as I acquired to UMass I couldn’t put on it ’trigger Marcus Camby retired the quantity. After which as soon as I acquired right here, Malik Sealy’s [widow] didn’t let me put on quantity 21. My dad used it when he performed, my mother used it when she performed, even earlier than they met one another. I graduated highschool Class of 2021. My grandpa’s birthday’s on the twelfth, in order that’s the other of 21. My grandma handed away on the twelfth, that’s the other … What else? … Me and my siblings, we’re all seven years aside, in order that’s 21. My dad’s grandma, she died on the twenty first. It means so much to me. Hopefully I may use it once more quickly.
Q: What do you imply?
A: I’m saying like after I play within the NBA, I get the quantity.
Q: When will you make that call?
A: I don’t know, I’m totally targeted on faculty proper now, and making an attempt to signify the Johnnies on my chest each night time, and making an attempt to make historical past. And that’s actually it, simply focus in on the duty at hand.
Q: What’s going to decide whether or not you keep or go to the NBA?
A: I believe the dedication is mainly if I may solidify first spherical, then I’d most likely enter the draft.
Q: Are you leaning somehow now?
A: No. I’m totally targeted on being a Johnnie.
Q: Who’re gamers within the NBA that remind you of you?
A: I don’t suppose I mannequin my sport after anyone per se. … I’d say like a bit Jaylen Brown, a bit Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges — these large wings that may shoot, that may rating all three ranges and clearly they’ll defend.
Q: How’s your 3-point shot today?
A: It’s coming alongside. It’s coming alongside.
Q: How useful had been the Joel Embiid tapes Coach Pitino despatched you?
A: (Snicker) Yeah, they had been fairly useful. It was nearly conserving the ball in entrance of you and capturing it, however I put a number of work myself after I was again dwelling [in Miami]. That was one thing I used to be making an attempt to rep. Clearly now you would see a bit little bit of the outcomes the final 4, 5 video games. It’s actually nearly having the arrogance to maintain on capturing these photographs and realizing that every one the work that I put in that I ought to make the photographs..
Q: If you got here to St. John’s, you mentioned: “The storm is coming.”
A: We’re the Pink Storm, so type of simply threw out, “The storm is coming,” that means that we’re gonna get again to what the outdated St. John’s was.
Q: Describe Coach Pitino’s white swimsuit.
A: Final yr we performed in opposition to Creighton, so it was a kind of video games, like, if we lose and he’s carrying a white swimsuit, he’s gonna kill us. It’s fairly cool, it’s very distinctive to him, after which clearly he did it once more this yr [against Seton Hall], and we had been capable of get the Dub, so we’re 2-for-2 within the white swimsuit.
Q: Looie Carnesecca.
A: A legend. I believe he’s the face of St. John’s. He’s just like the true embodiment of what a Johnnies man needs to be. I used to be grateful to satisfy him a few instances, I met him final yr earlier than he handed, and it was simply nice to see that he remembered who I used to be even on the age that he was.
Q: You’ve a 4.0 GPA?
A: 3.93.
Q: What’s your main?
A: Sports activities administration.
Q: You cook dinner?
A: I make French toast from scratch. That’s my factor.
Q: You wish to fish?
A: Large-time fisherman. Saltwater. So I may eat it after.
Q: Three dinner company?
A:. Adam Sandler, Nona [late grandmother], LeBron James.
Q: Favourite film?
A: The “Happy Feet” collection, with the penguins.
Q: Favourite actor?
A: Adam Sandler.
Q: Favourite actress?
A: Megan Fox
Q: Favourite meal?
A: Crab legs.
Q: Describe enjoying for the Dominican Republic nationwide staff.
A: It was a really humbling expertise. Simply to see these children coming from a Third World nation, the kind of starvation and never having sneakers or socks and stuff like that, after which them coming to me and asking me for stuff. Very appreciative feeling simply to know that God has put me in a type of a greater place than they’re to achieve success although they may clearly get it completed. In life they are saying all people has like a unique head begin.
Q: Describe former St. John’s star Felipe Lopez.
A: I met Felipe Lopez final yr. It was cool, they used to name him the “Dominican Jordan.”
in opposition to Seton Corridor on March 1. Robert Sabo for NY Publish
Q: Favourite Dominican restaurant?
A: Rincon Latino.
Q: What do you consider the upcoming Large East Match?
A: It’s gonna be much more thrilling than final yr ’trigger now, us as St. John’s, we’ve the chip on our shoulder. In a approach, all these groups are coming to play on our dwelling court docket. I believe it’s simply gonna be very enjoyable, very aggressive, and I can’t wait. Final yr was a reasonably good expertise. I imply, it was OK, we beat Seton Corridor, I made like a bit buzzer-beater shot on the finish of the half, that was fairly cool. After which clearly, we bumped into the defending nationwide champs [UConn], which we misplaced by 5 factors. It felt good to get ’em again this yr.
Q: You might have to play them once more within the Match.
A: They’re lacking one from me (smile). They swept us final yr, so I’m undoubtedly making an attempt to do the identical factor again.
Q: What’s it like being acknowledged round city?
A: It’s a terrific humbling feeling. I attempt to take as many photos as I can and giving these followers a bit dialog, asking them what their title is and stuff like that.
Q: Clarify the sensation of what it’s wish to win and win large in New York.
A: I believe it’s life-changing. … Simply to only see how the town will get behind you, all of the love and help that you just get. Clearly I had by no means been behind [The Post] earlier than, and that’s an enormous deal right here in New York.
Q: What’s your message to St. John’s followers in regards to the Large East Match and March Insanity?
A: We’re gonna want all of the help we may get. You guys are what drives us and provides us all of the vitality that we have to go on the market and compete each night time.
