LSU forward RJ Luis Jr. has received a preliminary injunction granting him immediate eligibility for the 2026-27 college basketball season, according to Jon Rothstein.
Luis had been ruled ineligible by the NCAA after signing a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz following the 2025 NBA Draft. However, a Louisiana court ruled in his favor after determining that he never actually played in an NBA or G League regular-season game.
The 23-year-old went undrafted in 2025 before signing a two-way deal with Utah on June 26. He was later traded to the Boston Celtics and waived before the start of the season.
Luis subsequently signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League affiliate, but was waived before the season after suffering an injury. His inability to appear in a professional game became central to his challenge of the NCAA’s eligibility ruling.
The NCAA’s position was based on Luis having signed an NBA contract, despite never appearing in a regular-season NBA or G League game. The preliminary injunction temporarily prevents that ruling from keeping him off the court while the broader legal case continues.
Luis gives LSU a proven high-level scorer and rebounder. He was named Big East Player of the Year in 2024-25 after averaging 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 35 games for St. John’s.
He played 31.8 minutes per game that season and finished with 637 total points. Luis shot 43.9% from the field and 33.6% from three-point range while averaging 2.1 offensive rebounds per game.
Across three college seasons at UMass and St. John’s, Luis has appeared in 85 games and averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. His most productive season came in his final year at St. John’s, when he increased his scoring from 10.9 points per game in 2023-24 to 18.2.
Luis committed to LSU in May 2026 while pursuing his challenge against the NCAA. With the preliminary injunction now in place, he is eligible to join Will Wade’s roster for the 2026-27 season.
