Louisville basketball is said to be in good shape with UMass transfer RJ Luis, but is this the type of guard that the Cardinals need in 2023-24?
Kenny Payne and the Louisville basketball staff have been very selective about the players they bring on campus.
To date, nearly every player the staff has brought to Louisville for a visit has committed to the Cards.
So, it should be noted that Massachusetts transfer RJ Luis recently finished a visit with the staff and is now heavily rumored to be inking with UofL.
The 6’7″ guard fits the mold of a Kenny Payne guard from a size perspective. But is he the right fit?
Let’s look at what the rising sophomore brings to the table.
A prolific scoring threat
First, Luis can score at all three levels, showcasing a propensity to crash the boards as a mismatch at the two and create second-chance opportunities.
As a guard, Luis is aggressive but efficient.
In his freshman season, he shot 45.5% from two and 34.8% from beyond the arc. Those are numbers very similar to returning Cardinals guard Mike James.
Luis, however, is even more aggressive going to the bucket than James. He attempted 196 two-point baskets, converting on 94 of them.
He also got to the free-throw line frequently, making 75 of 95 attempts. In comparison, James went 75 for 96.
Luis loves mucking things up and has a gift for finding loose balls and creating second-chance opportunities.
He should not be seen in the same vain as James or Louisville signee Kaleb Glenn, however. Luis is exceptionally shifty, athletically gifted, possesses lateral quickness, and exhibits excellent handles for his size.
He can create for others and operates well in the flow of the offense.
A willing defender
One thing that Louisville basketball fans want to see from guard additions is the ability and willingness to defend.
It’s difficult to compile a well-defined list of Louisville’s issues last season, but at the forefront of the Cards’ problem was the inability to defend at the guard position.
And ‘inability’ may not even be the correct way to describe it, but rather a lack of understanding of how to defend and a lack of care to defend for fear of being pulled.
Last season, El Ellis, James, and Kamari Lands had little-to-no depth behind them. There was no reason to buy into Louisville’s defensive philosophies because there were no consequences for actions.
Enter Luis- a guy who averaged more than a steal per game last season.
He is more than willing to dive for loose balls, shows active hands consistently on defense, and is able to use his length to create extra possessions.
If nothing else, Louisville is adding a guy who has shown the propensity to do what it takes to move to the next level.
If that doesn’t convince you, look at the list of teams recruiting Luis: St. John’s (Rick Pitino), Texas Tech, and Penn State, among others. Teams look for long defensive presences at guard.
Luis brings a different look to the guard position than Cards fans are used to, but would be a killer presence out front for Payne and company.
A true combo guard
Finally, Luis is a guy that can play sparingly at the “one” for Louisville basketball.
I would not consider Luis a player who you give lots of minutes quarterbacking an offense. However, as a supplemental piece to point guard Skyy Clark, guard Trentyn Flowers, the aforementioned James, and Hercy Miller, Luis can bring versatility and reliable ball handling to the team.
In the modern game, unless a team is picking you up at halfcourt or pressing you, the need for a Peyton Siva or Quentin Snider-esque ball handler is negated by having a core of guards who can all handle the ball.
This gives the offense a chance to operate more fluidly, unencumbered by specific “positions”.
The rules and spacing are certainly different in the NBA game, but if you watch any playoff team right now, this is the way that teams play. Get the ball up the court and get into your offense.
With the current guards on this Louisville basketball roster, Luis fits that bill perfectly.
More on Luis here:
We definitely need a 3 and D type player that can effect the game on both sides of the court. RJ sounds like a solid player that could get better and better with the proper coaching.