Judge Clears Path For RJ Luis To Play At LSU As Attorney Puts Pressure On Will Wade

By Staff Reporter•Oct 29, 20269:55 am•

USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

A Louisiana judge has cleared the way for LSU basketball player RJ Luis Jr. to potentially take the court next week, but his ongoing eligibility battle is far from over.

On Wednesday, East Baton Rouge Parish District Judge Ronald Johnson issued a temporary injunction preventing the SEC from penalizing LSU for playing Luis, who has been fighting to regain his college eligibility after signing professional contracts.

The order takes effect November 3, when LSU opens its season against New Orleans, and remains in place until November 13, when another hearing is scheduled.

However, LSU has not confirmed whether Luis will play, and his attorney, Tony Clayton Jr., is now putting pressure on head coach Will Wade.

Clayton told ESPN that he would seek to hold Wade in contempt of court if the LSU coach refuses to play Luis.

"We're going to use the long arm of the law to force Will Wade to play him," Clayton said.

Luis, the 2025 Big East Player of the Year at St. John's, went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft before signing professional contracts with the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics. He did not play in an NBA regular-season game.

The SEC has maintained that Luis is ineligible under its rules regarding former professional players.

Wednesday's ruling gives Luis a potential path to play in LSU's season opener, but his long-term eligibility remains uncertain heading into the November 13 hearing.

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6 Comments

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DeafVallyBatnR•1 min

I think I finally understand what is happening with all these basketball players. We know they went pro. We know they got paid. But in there eyes and the courts eyes they are still within 5 for 5 and the players feel like i got paid less or the same as a college player did. So as long as I am still in 5 for 5 window they feel like they should be able to come back.

If they are past the 5 year window of when the entered college then this is not in play. Probably wrong but I am just trying to understand.

HarryHoudini•1 hour

This is fricking stupid. Why did we even try to get involved with a guy who entered the draft over a year ago? Is wade incapable of getting players already eligible?

chadr07•38 min

You act as if Wade is/was the only coach that was going after these kind of players lol. Also if you haven’t noticed every player on LSUs roster is currently eligible. What a stupid comment.

HarryHoudini•25 min

Idgaf what other programs are doing and he obv ain’t that great bc if he was he’d be playing somewhere. I just don’t see the point in going after a player that left school almost two years ago to go pro. I thought this guy got screwed over like the football players we tried to sign so I understood. This guy made the decisions to leave school and go pro and it didn’t work out. Boo fricking hoo kid welcome to the real world.

GeauxPanthers2•1 hour

Lol... no chance Wade would be held in contempt of court if they don't add Luis to the roster. What a joke.

tadelatt•31 min

Pretty sure this is to protect LSU. His lawyer is taking the brunt of the blame before the SEC decides to blame Will Wade for it. He’s basically saying it’s his legal responsibility to play him, which it isn’t, that way the SEC has to come after him , not them.

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