RJ Lewis considers Big East Player of the Year honors.
The dynamic 6-foot-7 wing was named League Player of the Week after defeating 9th-ranked St. John's against 18th-ranked Marquette and Connecticut.
The front runners are Clayton Center Ryan Calkbrenner and Marquette guard Cam Jones, but the best players on the best team win the regular awards, and St. Johns sits alone on the meeting.
The latest award-winning St. John's player was Walterbury in 1986.
“I'm blessed to be part of that conversation,” Lewis said Tuesday on Zoom. “As long as we keep winning, we feel like we'll see what happens. But I'm definitely excited because I know I'm fighting for it. But , in particular, I'm just about to win the Big East title, a regular season conference championship.
In the conference play, Lewis is fourth in scoring (18.3) and rebounds (7.2), 11th in offensive rebounds per game (2.2), free throw percentage (73.6), and 12th in field goal percentage (43.4). .
He also appeared as a strong defender who could defend several different positions.
Lewis made a huge leap this year when he barely practiced after an injury was avoided last season.
Last spring, he had surgery to repair the splints on both feet.
“I think I've done a lot of work. I'm finally healthy. My shins don't bother me,” he said. “After victory and success, what I am most satisfied with is wake up every day, I touch my shins and they won't hurt. They really feel good.”
Check out the latest Big East rankings and cents. John's statistics
A few weeks ago, manager Rick Pitino said he had been hoping Lewis would go professionally from this season onwards.
Pitino then took a step back, saying that Lewis would test the water and see where he was standing.
St. John's main scorer is not thinking about the future at this point.
“My main focus now is college, and I'm trying to get to New York City on behalf of St. John's in front of my chest,” Lewis said. “When the season is over, we'll get to it.”
According to Pitino, senior point guard Deivon Smith missed practice for the second day in a row due to neck pain, and is doubtful that he will face Villanova.
Smith also deals with the injured right shoulder that he suffered during the first Villanova contest on January 11th.
This is the fourth game he missed after his first injury. Smith actually injured his neck on Sunday.
Director Van Macon's health is improving and he will be able to return to the bench soon, he told the Post. Macon had heart procedures recently.
