St. John’s coach Rick Pitino received unfortunate news on Tuesday: RJ Luis, a promising wing player, will miss the early part of the season due to a broken left hand. The injury occurred during Sunday’s open practice, and Luis was seen wearing a protective brace while watching Tuesday’s workout from the sidelines.
The 6-foot-7 sophomore, a transfer from UMass, is expected to return by the Charleston Classic starting November 16 against North Texas. Despite Luis’ absence, St. John’s has considerable depth on the wing. Luis was contending with Oregon State transfer Glenn Taylor Jr. and UConn transfer Nahiem Alleyne for the starting small forward position. Other potential replacements include four-star freshman Brady Dunlap and Virginia Military Institute transfer Sean Conway.
Pitino, known for his flexible lineups, mentioned the possibility of playing with three guards at times. He has high hopes for Luis, who has a strong three-point shot and was an All-Atlantic 10 freshman team selection last year at UMass, where he averaged 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Luis chose St. John’s over Louisville and Texas A&M in early May. With his injury, Taylor is likely to start the season. The 6-6 Taylor, a versatile offensive player and strong defender, averaged 11.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last season. Dunlap, dealing with a minor ankle injury, has impressed the coaching staff with his shooting and is expected to secure a role on the team.
