Former St. John's star RJ Luis signs to play at LSU and return to college basketball

Key Points:

• RJ Luis, the 2025 Big East Player of the Year at St. John’s, has signed with LSU after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, but he is currently not eligible to play at the college level and may file a lawsuit to seek a waiver.
• Luis went undrafted in the NBA Draft, briefly signed two-way contracts with the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics, and played no G-League games before deciding to return to college basketball amid growing eligibility uncertainties.
• The NCAA is considering a rule change to establish a five-year eligibility window starting from high school graduation or age 19, but it likely won’t apply retroactively, potentially prompting legal challenges from players like Luis.
• Luis had a standout college career with UMass and St. John’s, averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in his junior year, and his addition would significantly bolster LSU’s roster, which currently has only five players committed for next season.
• LSU has also secured commitments from several transfers and international players, including UTSA guard Austin Nunez and Michigan State’s Divine Ugochukwu, as the program looks to rebuild under coach Will Wade.