SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Takes Stance On RJ Luis’ Eligibility Case At LSU

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is pushing back against the idea of former professional athletes returning to college sports as LSU basketball continues to seek eligibility for former St. John’s star RJ Luis Jr.

According to ESPN, Sankey filed an affidavit in an East Baton Rouge Parish court last week asking Judge Ronald Johnson to uphold NCAA rules preventing athletes who have signed professional contracts from returning to college. Sankey argued that allowing former pros to return creates a “competitive disadvantage and fundamental unfairness” for current college athletes.

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"These rules are grounded in the principle that athletics are an integral part of the academic experience," Sankey wrote. "The rules align the time permitted for college athletics with the pursuit of an undergraduate education and further the important purpose of preserving opportunities for future student-athletes to participate in college sports."

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Luis, the 2024-25 Big East Player of the Year, went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft before signing a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz and later being traded to the Boston Celtics. He appeared in three NBA preseason games but never played in an NBA or G League regular-season game. Luis has committed to LSU and is seeking another season of college eligibility, with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for Monday, August 24, in Baton Rouge.

The situation puts Sankey on the opposite side of an eligibility battle involving one of his own SEC schools. LSU and first-year head coach Will Wade are also awaiting eligibility decisions for several other additions to the Tigers' 2026-27 roster.