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big East Player of the Year Targeted with Harassment, Deactivates Instagram
The Aftermath of March Madness: Online abuse
RJ Luis Jr., the Dominican basketball standout for the St. John’s Red Storm, and recently crowned Big East Player of the Year [[3]], has become the target of intense online harassment following his team’s elimination from the March Madness Tournament. The barrage of negative attention led the young athlete to deactivate his Instagram account earlier this week.
The vitriol appears to stem from St. John’s loss to Arkansas. During the game on Saturday, March 22nd, Luis, typically a key player for the Red Storm, struggled on the court, scoring only 9 points with a shooting percentage of just 3 of 17.
This performance, a departure from his usual stellar play, triggered a wave of abusive comments and personal attacks across social media platforms. Disappointed fans, and possibly those with financial stakes in the game’s outcome, flooded his accounts with insults, holding him accountable for the team’s defeat.
Only a loser harasses university athletes after losing a bet.
NCAA Advertisement
The NCAA has actively campaigned against this type of behavior, releasing advertisements during the tournament emphasizing the detrimental impact of online harassment on student-athletes.
A Young Fan’s Uplifting Message
Amidst the negativity, Luis has also received an outpouring of support. One particularly heartwarming gesture came from Lilly,a 12-year-old fan known online as “Mini Fan.” Lilly created a handmade poster with an encouraging message for the St. John’s star.
“You’re amazing, RJ Luis. Keep doing a great job!” Lilly wrote on the poster. Her mother shared the image on X (formerly Twitter), alongside a photo of Lilly proudly wearing a St. John’s red Storm commemorative jacket.
She wanted RJ to know it’s amazing and that he kept his forehead high.
Brandy, Lilly’s Mother
Big East Player of the Year: A season of Triumph
Just days before the NCAA Tournament game, Luis was honored with the prestigious Big East Player of the Year award [[3]]. In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to his family, coaches, and teammates, with a special tribute to his father.
You are the plane, the only person who believed in me from the beginning.
RJ Luis Jr.
He also acknowledged his pride in representing the Dominican and Latino communities.
It’s an incredible blessing… I’m just the third player in the history of st. john’s in receiving this award.
RJ Luis Jr.
The 6-foot-6 guard transferred to St. John’s in 2023 from UMass. With another year of NCAA eligibility remaining, the basketball community anticipates his potential return next season, hoping he will come back even stronger.
