Atlantic 10 Basketball: 5 takeaways from start of 2022-23 conference play

RJ Luis is the Future at UMass

In a season that’s been extremely up-and-down thus far for the Minutemen, freshman wing RJ Luis’ development has been perhaps the most exciting storyline involving the team. Luis showed occasional flashes early in the season, but since the beginning of conference play, he has been UMass’ go-to scoring option (especially with Noah Fernandes missing time), averaging 14.5 points per contest.

Luis’ most recent performance against Richmond is one that may be looked back on as his real “coming out party,” as he helped the Minutemen gut out a tight, shorthanded win with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. This is a solid Freshman class for UMass; the backcourt duo of Keon Thompson and Rahsool Diggins have shown nice poise and playmaking in Fernandes’ stead, and 6’9” wing Tafara Gapare is one of the best pure athletes the program has had in many years, but Luis is just so polished and fluid and, perhaps most importantly, consistent.

Even when the team is at full health (knocking on wood that that’s not an “if”), Luis has earned the full trust of this staff and his teammates and should continue to be one of the top 2 or 3 options on offense moving forward.