As significant as St. John’s fourth-ranked transfer class has been to the program’s best regular season in 25 years, the development of returners Zuby Ejiofor and RJ Luis was paramount to the Johnnies’ success this year.
The two close friends went from role players last winter to difference makers, and on Sunday they were selected by Big East coaches to the league’s first team.
It is the first time two St. John’s players have been on the first team since 1986, when Mark Jackson and Walter Berry were chosen.
In a surprise, Kadary Richmond wasn’t on the first team.
The Seton Hall transfer keyed sixth-ranked St. John’s run to its first outright Big East regular season crown since 1985.
In league play, the 6-foot-6 guard averaged 14.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.6 steals, and he has played extraordinarily well over the last month despite groin injuries in each leg.
Luis was one of four unanimous first team selections, along with Villanova’s Eric Dixon, Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner and Marquette’s Kam Jones.
Georgetown’s Micah Peavy was also on the first team.
The 6-foot-7 Luis started 27 of 30 games and averaged 18.1 points on 44.6 percent shooting, along with 7.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
The only other Big East player in the top-six in scoring and rebounding was Kalkbreener.
Luis could be the first Johnnie to be the league’s Player of the Year since Berry in 1986.
That award will be announced on Wednesday.
“It would be a blessing to receive the award. It would be an honor,” Luis said 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].” .
Joining Richmond on the second team were Connecticut duo Solo Ball and Alex Karaban, Creighton guard Steven Ashworth and Xavier forward Ryan Freemantle.
The third team consisted of Georgetown center Thomas Sorber, UConn forward Liam McNeeley, Marquette forward David Joplin, Villanova guard Wooga Poplar, Xavier guard Ryan Conwell and Butler guard Jahmyl Telfort.
Sorber, McNeeley, Creighton’s Jackson McAndrew, Providence’s Ryan Mela and Oswin Erhunmwunse, and Marquette’s Royce Parham made up the All-Freshman team.
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