Red Storm’s LJ declares for draft
This Johnnie is somewhat ready to fly the coop after a halted run through the Big East tournament.
St. John’s standout LJ Figueroa has decided to declare for the NBA draft, though he chose not to hire an agent and hasn’t ruled out returning to the Red Storm next season.
“These past two years at St. John’s have presented me with tremendous opportunities for growth both on and off the court,” Figueroa wrote in Instagram Saturday night. “My family, coaches, teammates and my hometown Lawrence, Massachusetts, have helped me develop into the man I am today, and I cannot begin to thank everyone enough.
“After speaking with my family and coaching staff, I have decided to declare for the 2020 NBA Draft,” Figueroa continued in the post. “I intend to keep all of my options open and look forward to the learning experience this process will offer.”
Figueroa, a 6-6, 200pound wing, was a JUCO transfer who came to St. John’s from Odessa College in Texas prior to the 2018-19 season and stole the spotlight for the Johnnies. He was 12th in scoring in the Big East last season, averaging 14.5 points per game.
“We support LJ’s decision to pursue his lifelong dream,” St. John’s first-year head coach Mike Anderson said. “This is an opportunity to gain valuable information by going through the NBA pre-draft process to make the best decision for his future.”
Figueroa has fierce competition ahead of him in the pool of prospects who have already declared. Among them: Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball (who’s been playing overseas in the Australian Basketball League), Memphis’ James Wiseman and Killian Hayes (the international prospect from France). Some prospects, like UNC’s Cole Anthony, a rising sophomore from New York, have already shared decisions to delay their NBA pursuits because of the uncertainty that comes with the future of the NBA amid the coronavirus outbreak.
So Figueroa could very well be back at Carneecca Arena in the fall.