LSU Basketball Signee R.J. Luis Not Giving Up Legal Fight To Play, And Gets Court Order Saying He Is Eligible

By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor

Former St. John’s Big East Player of the Year R.J. Luis, who signed two NBA contracts in 2025 after not being selected in the ’25 NBA Draft, is still trying to find his way on the LSU basketball team for the 2026-27 season.

Will Wade, who has had a tendency to try to roster all comers from all corners of the world regardless of eligibility issues since becoming LSU’s coach for a second time last March, hasn’t even wanted to roster Luis.

“We’re going to follow all the SEC protocols with him,” Wade said about Luis at SEC Media Days on Oct. 13. “I think it’s been pretty clear what the SEC protocols are on all that. He didn’t travel with us to McNeese, and he hasn’t been rostered.”

A week later, Wade decided Luis would not be on his roster, period, according to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. Norlander’s report said Wade and LSU had “given up their fight for Luis to be eligible,” because it would be in violation of SEC rules preventing pro roster members from returning to college after signing pro contracts.

And Luis has no longer been practicing with the LSU team as he was previously along with other players at the time not yet eligible and awaiting NCAA clearance.

Wade’s official roster, meanwhile, has been filling up fast recently with 13 eligible players after only four earlier this month.

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Luis has sort of a double-double obstacle for NCAA clearance in that pro-contract category. He signed two NBA contracts – one with the Utah Jazz and another with the Boston Celtics in 2025 after averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds for St. John’s in his last season in 2024-25.

Well, Luis and his lawyers in a new amendment to an Aug. 3 lawsuit against the NCAA are now suing LSU and the SEC in addition to the NCAA for eligibility.

And on Wednesday, East Baton Rouge Parish 19th Judicial District Court judge Ronald S. Johnson made Luis temporarily eligible to play by signing an injunction that says it is stopping the SEC from imposing penalties on LSU if it rosters Luis, Luis’ attorney Tony Clayton of Baton Rouge said Wednesday.

Oh Peter Pan. Please stop.

— Dana O’Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) October 28, 2026

Representatives for LSU and the SEC are expected to appear at a preliminary injunction hearing on Nov. 13 that will determine whether Luis can remain eligible. But as of now, Johnson and Clayton say Luis can play in LSU’s regular season opener on Nov. 3 against LSU-New Orleans at LSU and in other games against Texas Southern on Nov. 6 and Louisiana Tech on Nov. 9. LSU plays Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington, on Nov. 14.

Will Wade is wising up. He’s taking my advice!

— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) October 20, 2026

No one from LSU, however, has confirmed that Luis will be added to the roster because of this latest ruling. Tiger Rag has asked Wade and LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry for comment on Luis’ status, but neither immediately responded.

Will Wade Signs Former NBA Player RJ Luis, But There May Be Legal Baggage

Luis signed with LSU last May, but LSU officials and Wade considered it a long shot that he would play for the Tigers, considering his NBA contract signings.