NEW YORK (Feb. 11, 2025) ---
R.J. Luis Jr. of St. John's University has been named Division I Men’s Player of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
The designation, for games played Feb. 3-9, is unique in that it encompasses players from 21 Met area Division I schools.
This is the second MBWA weekly honor this season for Luis, having previously won for the week of Jan. 6-12.
A 6-7 junior guard/forward from Miami, FL, Luis --- who also was named the Big East, NCAA March Madness and the Naismith Trophy National player of the week --- helped the then No. 12-ranked conference-leading Redmen (21-3, 12-1 BEC) to a pair of victories over Top 20 opponents last week by averaging 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks.
St. John’s, ranked No. 9 this week and riding the second-longest active winning streak in Division I at 10 games, defeated then No. 11 Marquette 70-64 last Tuesday at Madison Square Garden and upended then No. 19 UConn 68-62 on the road last Friday. The latter win was the first time the Johnnies had beaten the Huskies with fans in attendance at Gampel Pavilion since 2000.
In Tuesday’s triumph over Marquette, Luis registered his seventh double-double of the season, putting up a 17-point and 11-rebound performance. Additionally, the junior swingman was stout defensively, tallying a career-high three blocks and matching a season-best four steals in 40 minutes of action.
On Friday, Luis delivered his seventh 20-plus point performance of the season, finishing with team high’s of 21 points and seven rebounds. He proved clutch down the stretch, scoring eight points over the final 2:16, including a crucial baseline jumper with 10.1 seconds remaining to put the Red Storm up four and help the victory.
Luis ranks fourth in the Big East in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game, and has finished in double-figures in 23 of 24 appearances this season. He also ranks sixth in the league off the glass, logging 6.8 rebounds, and has notched seven or more boards in nine of his last 10 contests.
Players receiving MBWA Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Andre Snoddy, Stony Brook; Blair Thompson, Columbia.
Previous MBWA 2024-25 Division I Men’s Players of the Week: Dec. 10,
Xaivian Lee, Princeton; Dec. 17,
Dylan Harper, Rutgers; Jan. 7,
Ace Bailey, Rutgers; Jan. 14,
R.J. Luis Jr., St. John's; Jan. 21,
Ace Bailey, Rutgers; Jan. 28,
Mekhi Conner, Sacred Heart; Feb. 4,
Madison Durr, Monmouth.