As vital as St. John’s fourth-ranked switch class has been to this system’s finest common season in 25 years, the event of returners Zuby Ejiofor and RJ Luis was paramount to the Johnnies’ success this yr.
The 2 shut pals went from position gamers final winter to distinction makers, and on Sunday they had been chosen by Huge East coaches to the league’s first workforce.
It’s the first time two St. John’s gamers have been on the primary workforce since 1986, when Mark Jackson and Walter Berry had been chosen.
In a shock, Kadary Richmond wasn’t on the primary workforce.
The Seton Corridor switch keyed sixth-ranked St. John’s run to its first outright Huge East common season crown since 1985.
In league play, the 6-foot-6 guard averaged 14.0 factors, 6.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and a pair of.6 steals, and he has performed terribly nicely during the last month regardless of groin accidents in every leg.
Luis was one among 4 unanimous first workforce picks, together with Villanova’s Eric Dixon, Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner and Marquette’s Kam Jones.
Georgetown’s Micah Peavy was additionally on the primary workforce.
The 6-foot-7 Luis began 27 of 30 video games and averaged 18.1 factors on 44.6 p.c capturing, together with 7.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
The one different Huge East participant within the top-six in scoring and rebounding was Kalkbreener.
Luis might be the primary Johnnie to be the league’s Participant of the 12 months since Berry in 1986.
That award will likely be introduced on Wednesday.
“It would be a blessing to receive the award. It would be an honor,” Luis stated after Saturday’s win at No. 20 Marquette. “What I did from last year to this year, just my transition with my [shin] surgeries, I think [it would be] a pretty awesome story. On top of that, to win the regular season championship and have [this kind] of season, to do it with this group of guys, it feels really great, and to be coached by Coach [Rick Pitino].” .
Becoming a member of Richmond on the second workforce had been Connecticut duo Solo Ball and Alex Karaban, Creighton guard Steven Ashworth and Xavier ahead Ryan Freemantle.
The third workforce consisted of Georgetown middle Thomas Sorber, UConn ahead Liam McNeeley, Marquette ahead David Joplin, Villanova guard Wooga Poplar, Xavier guard Ryan Conwell and Butler guard Jahmyl Telfort.
Sorber, McNeeley, Creighton’s Jackson McAndrew, Windfall’s Ryan Mela and Oswin Erhunmwunse, and Marquette’s Royce Parham made up the All-Freshman workforce.
