RJ Luis Jr. opens up about ‘achievable’ St. John’s national championship dream

Junior Red Storm guard RJ Luis Jr., who has helped lead St. John’s to its first outright Big East regular-season title in 40 years, takes a shot at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: The first team meeting before the season began, what did coach Rick Pitino tell the team?

A: He just told us that he envisioned something special. From the beginning, he always said the sky’s the limit. He just said we just need to focus on defense.

Q: When Coach Pitino told you that the sky was the limit, what is the limit? Define what the sky is.

A: I don’t like to speak ahead of time, but definitely [a] national championship is what everybody strives to reach and accomplish.

Q:. What’s it like to be able to dream about cutting down the nets and winning a national championship?

A: It’s kind of no longer a dream, it’s more of like something that is achievable. And now you think about actually the possibility of doing it, compared to last year, we were just dreaming about, oh, like hopefully you make the tournament. I was just talking about it the other day with one of the coaches, I’m like, “Now we’re talking about what seed we want.” It’s crazy to see the transition from one year to Year 2.

Q: What was the low point following your shin surgery last year?

A: It was probably like a month into the surgery. I couldn’t walk by myself, couldn’t stand up. I felt like helpless in a way, ’cause I needed somebody to help me all the time. The pain was unbearable. I couldn’t sleep, had to like up the dosage on the drug so I could just go to sleep.

Q: What was your worst fear?

A: I didn’t think I was gonna be as athletic. Like I thought I was gonna lose my step. And I’m probably more athletic than I was the year before.

Q: What is the biggest obstacle you had to overcome post-surgery?

A: The biggest obstacle was probably playing throughout the whole season hurt.

Q: How hurt?

A: Just trying to put myself out there doing whatever the team needed me to do even though if it affected me in the long term with my shins. It was hard, trying to pop a couple of Advils, some painkillers to try to help it a little bit. The adrenaline helps, but after those games, I was in crazy pain. So my schedule last year was I would take the day off before the game, and then take the day off after the game. So I was never practicing, I never did the shootarounds.

Q: So no one saw the real RJ last year?

A: There were just glimpses last year.

Q: So how does it feel now to be in the running for Big East Player of the Year and Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year?

A: For the Big East Player of the Year, I think it’s a blessing. I think I’ve done a lot to show why I should win it, just being able to help carry St. John’s to the promised land, like they’ll say, even though we haven’t done anything yet. But regular-season championship hasn’t been done in 40 years … went undefeated at home, hadn’t been done in 94 years. I’ve been doing a lot for my case. And then obviously, the Julius Erving award, that’s actually kind of funny ’cause I went to his alma mater, UMass, my freshman year, and Coach P. actually went to UMass as well, that’s his alma mater. I never met [Erving], maybe hopefully if I win that one too I could meet him.

Q: Coach P. says you’ll be a better pro than college player.

A: I a hundred percent agree. I just think the flow of the game in the NBA, there’s a lot more space … faster pace. I think my game would adapt more to that. In college there’s no 3-second defensive rule in the paint, so guys could like load up on you and play the gaps, and obviously in the NBA there’s a lot more space. I think my game will flourish more in the NBA, but right now if I keep shooting the ball how I’m shooting, I think my game’s gonna take another level in college as we head up to the Tournament and March Madness.

Q: Why do you like the big moments in the big games?

A: I don’t know how to explain it, but I definitely feel like at the end of a game, like I’m the one that should be taking the last shot for us to win. I don’t think there’s anything cocky with that or anything. I don’t feel any pressure to do it, I’ll assume the responsibility if it goes in, if it doesn’t.

Q: Why do you think that is?

A: It comes with the game, you’re gonna make some shots, you’re gonna miss some shots. I feel like you can’t beat yourself up for trying to win the game. Everything you do is to try to win the game. Nobody purposely misses a shot to lose.

Q: Describe your on-court mentality.

A: Just try to be the best player on the floor, on both sides of the ball. I think this season I’ve been making some big strides, consider myself one of the best two-way players in the country.

Q: In 2021 on social media you wrote: “Coming for every single thing they said I couldn’t have.”

A: I was in a different headspace, I just felt I was very confident in myself and I just knew that this year my prep school [Mt. Zion, in Seabrook, Md.] could change my life, so I just said I’m coming for every single thing that I deserve.

Q: How is that different from your headspace now?

A: Oh, it’s the same, it’s probably even better just confidence-wise. Probably my headspace last year was pretty low just because I didn’t practice, I was hurt all the time. I broke my hand, I was suffering from the shin splints. It was pretty frustrating just trying to be myself, the player I envision in myself. But this year I have all the confidence in the world knowing that God has blessed me to be healthy again.

Q: What is it like for you guys playing defense the way you guys play defense and what is it like for the other team?

A: I think it’s fun at this point, just because we know how much success we have with it. We go so hard in practice, and we go up and down, so when you’re in the game, you have tons of adrenaline, so at times you don’t even feel tired.

Q: Do you think you’re the best-conditioned team in the country?

A: I would throw it up there, ’cause we do press, we press a lot. I would actually like to press more just because we get the other teams very chaotic. When you press, you speed ’em up, and they can make more mistakes.

Q: What are practices like?

A: It’s all up and down. Everything is live. He doesn’t stop and lecture us for 20 to 30 minutes, it’s just continuous basketball, so we’ll go up and down like four, five times, and he’ll say something, like a little quick something, and then we’ll keep on going. It’s kind of like you’re learning on the fly.

Q: Are the practices harder than some of the games?

A: I think they’re more tiring. Our practices get competitive, but the Big East is a great league top to bottom. I feel like every time somebody plays us they want to give us their best shot, especially ’cause we play in the Garden, everybody wants to perform there.

Q: St. John’s is now “the hunted.”

A: It’s a great feeling, but we have to just stay humble. Even though we’re on the top right now, doesn’t mean we can’t go to the bottom. Nothing is solidified, so that’s how he have to approach every game.

Q: As “the hunter”?

A: Yeah, as “the hunter.”

Q: What makes Coach P. a Hall of Fame coach?

A: Very genuine … cares a lot about his players. … I think just his knowledge of the game is second to none. And really his ability to adapt to different generations, I think that gives him a one-step forward on all the other coaches. He’s very hip to what’s going on and stuff like that.

Q: What would you say drives him?

A: Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. I think he’s past trying to seek success for himself, but more about trying to put others in position to be successful.

Q: What drives you?

A: Just trying to be the best player that I could be, and obviously one day knowing that me playing this sport I’ll be able to take care of my family … try to give back to them.

Q: Some of your teammates: Kadary Richmond.

A:. He’s a facilitator, playmaker … and he can score the ball.

Q: Zuby Ejiofor.

A: Energetic … plays hard … plays with passion. He gives it all out on the floor every game.

Q: What is he like as a roommate?

A: He’s very chill. Clean guy, organized guy. We like to hang out a lot, play the video game sometimes. We watch a lot of college basketball, but he’s more into the NBA, he likes to watch a bunch of NBA games. I turn on the NBA when it’s playoffs. It’s kind of an out-of-body experience, it’s like once I got to college, all I think about is college.

Q: Deivon Smith.

A: He’s one of the fastest guys I’ve ever played with. He’s also very energetic. He changes the pace of the game, and he’s also a great point guard.

Q: Simeon Wilcher.

A: I think Sim has a lot of potential. He’s very talented. He’s a good shooter. I want him to be more aggressive on offense.

Q: Aaron Scott.

A: That’s your 3-and-D. He plays defense, he plays his butt off, he hustles and he can knock down the 3-ball.

Q: Sadiku Ayo.

A: Love that kid. Very humble kid, he works hard. He’s stepped up and he’s been playing great and I’m very happy for him.

Q: RJ Luis.

A: Very competitive, driven, hard-working, playmaker, and just very versatile.

Q: You and your teammates were on “The Tonight Show.”

A: Never been on a TV show like that, so it was pretty cool to be there with my teammates.

Q: Why do you wear No. 12?

A: I actually tried to get 21. I wore 21 throughout high school and prep school. Once I got to UMass I couldn’t wear it ’cause Marcus Camby retired the number. And then once I got here, Malik Sealy’s [widow] didn’t let me wear number 21. My dad used it when he played, my mom used it when she played, even before they met each other. I graduated high school Class of 2021. My grandpa’s birthday’s on the 12th, so that’s the opposite of 21. My grandma passed away on the 12th, that’s the opposite … What else? … Me and my siblings, we’re all seven years apart, so that’s 21. My dad’s grandma, she died on the 21st. It means a lot to me. Hopefully I could use it again soon.

Q: What do you mean?

A: I’m saying like when I play in the NBA, I get the number.

Q: When will you make that decision?

A: I don’t know, I’m fully focused on college right now, and trying to represent the Johnnies on my chest every night, and trying to make history. And that’s really it, just focus in on the task at hand.

Q: What will determine whether you stay or go to the NBA?

A: I think the determination is basically if I could solidify first round, then I would probably enter the draft.

Q: Are you leaning one way or the other now?

A: No. I’m fully focused on being a Johnnie.

Q: Who are players in the NBA that remind you of you?

A: I don’t think I model my game after anybody per se. … I’d say like a little Jaylen Brown, a little Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges — those big wings that can shoot, that can score all three levels and obviously they can defend.

Q: How’s your 3-point shot these days?

A: It’s coming along. It’s coming along.

Q: How helpful were the Joel Embiid tapes Coach Pitino sent you?

A: (Laugh) Yeah, they were pretty helpful. It was just about keeping the ball in front of you and shooting it, but I put a lot of work myself when I was back home [in Miami]. That was something I was trying to rep. Obviously now you could see a little bit of the results the last four, five games. It’s really just about having the confidence to keep on shooting those shots and knowing that all the work that I put in that I should make the shots..

Q: When you came to St. John’s, you said: “The storm is coming.”

A: We’re the Red Storm, so kind of just threw out, “The storm is coming,” meaning that we’re gonna get back to what the old St. John’s used to be.

Q: Describe Coach Pitino’s white suit.

A: Last year we played against Creighton, so it was one of those games, like, if we lose and he’s wearing a white suit, he’s gonna kill us. It’s pretty cool, it’s very unique to him, and then obviously he did it again this year [against Seton Hall], and we were able to get the Dub, so we’re 2-for-2 in the white suit.

Q: Looie Carnesecca.

A: A legend. I think he’s the face of St. John’s. He’s like the true embodiment of what a Johnnies man should be. I was grateful to meet him a couple of times, I met him last year before he passed, and it was just great to see that he remembered who I was even at the age that he was.

Q: You have a 4.0 GPA?

A: 3.93.

Q: What’s your major?

A: Sports management.

Q: You cook?

A: I make French toast from scratch. That’s my thing.

Q: You like to fish?

A: Big-time fisherman. Saltwater. So I could eat it after.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A:. Adam Sandler, Nona [late grandmother], LeBron James.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: The “Happy Feet” series, with the penguins.

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Adam Sandler.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Megan Fox

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Crab legs.

Q: Describe playing for the Dominican Republic national team.

A: It was a very humbling experience. Just to see those kids coming from a Third World country, the type of hunger and not having shoes or socks and stuff like that, and then them coming to me and asking me for stuff. Very appreciative feeling just to know that God has put me in a kind of a better position than they are to be successful even though they could obviously get it done. In life they say everybody has like a different head start.

Q: Describe former St. John’s star Felipe Lopez.

A: I met Felipe Lopez last year. It was cool, they used to call him the “Dominican Jordan.”

Q: Favorite Dominican restaurant?

A: Rincon Latino.

Q: What do you think of the upcoming Big East Tournament?

A: It’s gonna be even more exciting than last year ’cause now, us as St. John’s, we have the chip on our shoulder. In a way, all those teams are coming to play on our home court. I think it’s just gonna be very fun, very competitive, and I can’t wait. Last year was a pretty good experience. I mean, it was OK, we beat Seton Hall, I made like a little buzzer-beater shot at the end of the half, that was pretty cool. And then obviously, we ran into the defending national champs [UConn], which we lost by five points. It felt good to get ’em back this year.

Q: You may have to play them again in the Tournament.

A: They’re missing one from me (smile). They swept us last year, so I’m definitely trying to do the same thing back.

Q: What’s it like being recognized around town?

A: It’s a great humbling feeling. I try to take as many pictures as I can and giving those fans a little conversation, asking them what their name is and stuff like that.

Q: Explain the feeling of what it’s like to win and win big in New York.

A: I think it’s life-changing. … Just to just see how the city gets behind you, all the love and support that you get. Obviously I had never been in the back of [The Post] before, and that’s a big deal here in New York.

Q: What is your message to St. John’s fans about the Big East Tournament and March Madness?

A: We’re gonna need all the support we could get. You guys are what drives us and gives us all the energy that we need to go out there and compete every night.