RJ Luis granted ruling to join LSU, return to college basketball after going undrafted in latest eligibility case
It looks like RJ Luis will get to play at LSU after all.
Luis was granted a preliminary injunction on Monday that will allow him to play for the Tigers this season The decision was granted by Judge Ronald Johnson in Baton Rouge
Luis spent three seasons playing in college previously, first at UMass and then two seasons for Rick Pitino at St. John’s. He averaged 18.2 points per game during the 2024-25 campaign with the Red Storm and was named the Big East Player of the Year, and then went undrafted after that season. Luis signed a two-way deal with the Utah Jazz, and was traded to the Boston Celtics before he signed a deal with their G League team.
But Luis never appeared in any games for the Celtics or their G League affiliate in Maine before he was waived. He did play in three preseason games with the Celtics, but only a combined eight minutes.
Luis committed to play for LSU in May,
Luis committed to play for LSU in May, and filed a lawsuit in order to retain his eligibility. He’d be just the latest former professional basketball player to return to college, something that’s started happening in recent seasons. Alabama’s Charles Bediako was in a legal battle last season in an effort to remain on the floor for the Crimson Tide, for example.
Luis’ ruling comes amid several other former players are opting to return to LSU after attempting to make it to the NFL. Most notably, tight end Dae’Quan Wright is planning to join the Tigers this fall after being waived by the Cleveland Browns. Wright was one of several players granted a temporary restraining order that allowed him to transfer back to college despite being on an NFL roster at the time.
“Because of the rulings, they are going to play for you or play somewhere else around the country,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said on Monday. “So [we] made the decision to recruit them probably like most people are.”
SEC presidents issued a joint statement on Monday slamming these decisions, though it’s unclear if they will attempt to stop their coaches or athletic departments from recruiting these types of players. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey spoke out about this last week in an affidavit, too, saying that not allowing players to return to college athletics is “essential to the integrity of college sports,”
“College athletes, not former professional athletes, have been at the heart of the Southeastern Conference,” the statement on Monday said. “Individuals who chose to leave college athletics, sign professional playing contracts, and compete professionally should not then be permitted to return to college competition. Allowing that to occur will blur the line between college and professional sports, create significant competitive equity concerns, and reduce opportunities for high school and current college athletes.”
The NCAA has long been against players returning
The NCAA has long been against players returning to college in this way. With plenty of time before the LSU basketball season starts up, Luis likely isn’t completely in the clear, either.
But for now, Will Wade has landed another star player to join the Tigers later this fall.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
