RJ Luis Reportedly Won't Be Eligible for LSU, Would Have Violated Rules After Signing NBA Contract

Former St. John's star RJ Luis won't get to play for LSU this season after all.

Per CBS Sports' Matt Norlander , Luis will not be cleared by the SEC to suit up for the Tigers in 2026-27 because he would be in violation of the conference's rule that prevents players from returning to college after signing a pro contract. Luis went undrafted in 2025 and signed a two-way contract before later signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Boston Celtics' G League affiliate in Maine.

Luis signed with LSU in May and filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, which granted a preliminary injunction that declared him eligible for the 2026-27 season. The day after receiving his injunction, the SEC announced its new rules to prevent professional athletes from returning to college teams.

Still, Norlander noted that LSU head coach Will Wade "had been privately confident for months" that Luis would eventually be deemed eligible to play, but the SEC "would not budge." Sources told Norlander that in recent days, Wade "has come to accept the reality that Luis would not be allowed to compete for LSU this season."

The 2025 Big East Player of the Year in his final season with St. John's, Luis was a promising prospect with averages of 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Tournament after leading the Red Storm to a conference championship.

ESPN's Myron Metcalf reported that LSU was picked to finish 14th out of 16 teams in the SEC preseason poll, so the Tigers could use all the help they can get. However, they will have to forge ahead without Luis when they open the 2026-27 campaign on Nov. 3 against LSU New Orleans.