St. John’s RJ Luis Named Big East Player of the Year During Historic Season

RJ Luis overcame injuries to lead St. John’s to its first Big East regular season title in 40 years, while Rick Pitino earned Coach of the Year honors.

RJ Luis became the first St. John’s player in 39 years to win Big East Player of the Year, following a standout season averaging 18.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Luis credited his teammates and coach Rick Pitino for his development after recovering from surgeries to address shin splints and returning as a more dynamic player.
Rick Pitino was named Big East Coach of the Year after leading St. John’s to an 18-2 conference record and its first outright regular season title since 1985.
St. John’s enters the Big East Tournament as the top seed and a strong favorite to win its first conference tournament title since 2000.
The team’s success this season includes an undefeated record at Madison Square Garden, where they have drawn large crowds and built significant momentum.