The line separating college basketball from the professional game has become blurrier than ever.
RJ Luis Jr., who signed NBA contracts and appeared in three preseason games for the Boston Celtics, was granted a preliminary injunction Monday that will allow him to play for LSU during the 2026-27 season.
East Baton Rouge Parish District Court Judge Ronald R. Johnson issued the ruling following a hearing that lasted more than five hours. LSU coach Will Wade attended the proceedings and embraced Luis after the decision, according to ESPN.
For LSU, the immediate impact is enormous. Wade can now add a proven high-major star to a roster that desperately needed another established scorer.
For the NCAA, the consequences could extend well beyond Baton Rouge.
RJ Luis gives LSU a legitimate centerpiece
Luis was one of the best players in college basketball during his final season at St. John’s.
The 6-foot-7 wing averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds during the 2024-25 campaign, earning Big East Player of the Year honors and a spot on the second-team All-America roster. He helped Rick Pitino’s program win the Big East regular-season and tournament championships before entering the 2025 NBA Draft.
After going undrafted, Luis signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz. He was later traded to Boston, waived and signed to an Exhibit 10 deal connected to the Celtics’ G League affiliate.
Luis played only eight combined minutes across three preseason appearances for Boston. He never entered an NBA regular-season game and did not play for the Maine Celtics because of an injury.
That distinction became central to his case.
Johnson said Luis did not actually play professional basketball, according to ESPN. Luis’ attorneys also argued that international prospects with experience in professional organizations have routinely been permitted to play in college.
The NCAA countered that Luis voluntarily left college and signed professional contracts, regardless of whether he appeared in an official game.
For now, the court sided with Luis.
Will Wade’s LSU rebuild receives a massive boost
Luis committed to LSU in May despite the uncertainty surrounding his eligibility.
That gamble has paid off, at least temporarily.
The former St. John’s standout joins a Tigers roster that also includes commitments from former UCLA guards Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark. LSU had only four players listed on its official roster earlier in August, making Luis’ availability even more important.
Dent can create offense as a lead guard, while Clark offers shooting and additional playmaking. Luis brings size, rebounding and the ability to produce against high-level competition.
He does not merely give Wade another rotation option. He gives LSU a player capable of becoming one of the leading scorers in the SEC.
The Tigers still face significant uncertainty because several members of the roster are depending upon favorable court decisions to compete. The NCAA also could continue challenging Luis’ eligibility before or during the season.
That makes this victory meaningful but not necessarily final.
Luis ruling could open another door for former professionals
Luis’ case is different from the ongoing lawsuits involving players seeking a fifth season of college eligibility.
He had collegiate eligibility remaining, but his NBA contracts were expected to prevent him from returning. The ruling now creates a possible pathway for other players who leave school, sign professional deals and fail to establish themselves at the next level.
The SEC has strongly opposed that development.
Conference presidents released a joint statement Monday arguing that players who sign professional contracts and compete professionally should not be allowed to return to college. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey previously warned that the trend could create competitive-equity issues and reduce opportunities for current college and high school players.
A similar effort by Alabama center Charles Bediako failed last season. Bediako initially received a temporary restraining order and appeared in five games before another judge ultimately ruled him ineligible.
Luis has secured a more substantial preliminary injunction, but additional litigation remains possible.
That legal fight will continue in the background. On the basketball side, the ruling gives Wade one of the most accomplished transfers in the country and changes LSU’s outlook immediately.
The Tigers did not simply add a former Celtics player. They added a Big East Player of the Year who could become the centerpiece of one of college basketball’s most unusual roster rebuilds.
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