Former Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis, who signed a contract with a G League team and was involved in an NBA trade last season, has committed to LSU, according to a report from ESPN.
Whether or not he’ll actually be able to suit up for the Tigers remains in question, however.
Luis, who may be best remembered for being benched by Rick Pitino in St. John’s second round loss to Arkansas in the 2025 NCAA Tournament despite winning conference player of the year honors that season, did not play college basketball last year.
The 23-year-old entered the NBA Draft last year but was not selected. He signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Boston Celtics in August in exchange for Georges Niang and two future second-round picks.
Luis was waived by the Celtics before signing a contract with their G League affiliate in Maine, but was then waived by Maine before playing in a game. He spent much of the season recovering from a groin injury and didn’t play in a professional game.
NCAA rules state that players who have signed NBA contracts are not eligible to return to college. Amid swirling controversy last season, NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement that the NCAA “has not and will not grant eligibility” to prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed NBA or two-way contracts.
Still, uncertainty has reigned in recent years.
Last season, Baylor signed big man James Nnaji, who was chosen with the 31st overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons in 2023. Nnaji played in the summer league but never signed an NBA contract, though his rights were traded as part of the three-team mega-deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks.
Now 21, Nnaji played in 18 games for Baylor last season, averaging 1.8 points per game. He entered the transfer portal and will be a sophomore next season.
The NCAA did prevail in another high-profile case, ruling Alabama center Charles Bediako ineligbile after the 24-year-old, who played for three G League teams, returned to the Crimson Tide last season. Bediako played for Alabama from 2021-23, entered the NBA Draft that offseason and went undrafted, and signed a two-way contract with the San Antionio Spurs. He played in the G League that season, but not in the NBA. Bediako sued to allow the NCAA to allow him to return to Alabama, and was granted a temporary restraining order that allowed him to take the court for five games in the middle of the conference season, in which he averaged 10 points and 4.2 rebounds. A judge then denied a motion for a preliminary injunction, effectively ending his college career.
Luis would have to pursue a similar path in order to take the court for LSU.
After starting his career at UMass in 2022, Luis averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds for St. John’s in 2024-25, helping the Red Storm to a 31-5 record and Big East regular season and tournament titles.
