Sources: Luis, ’25 Big East POY, commits to LSU; TBD eligibility
Former St. John’s star RJ Luisthe 2025 Big East Player of the Year, has dedicated to L.S.U.sources instructed ESPN, though an extended eligibility combat possible stays.
After a terrific 2024-25 marketing campaign for the Red Storm, Luis entered the transfer portal and entered the NBA draft. I’ve remained in the draft previous the withdrawal deadline earlier than going undrafted. Luis then signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz earlier than being traded to the Boston Celtics in early August in trade for Georges Niang and two future second-round picks.
He was waived by the Celtics earlier than signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League affiliate. The Maine Celtics then waived Luis, who was injured, earlier than he performed a sport.
The NCAA has beforehand dominated that gamers who signal NBA contracts are ineligible, with the group recently prevailing in the eligibility saga of former Alabama center Charles Bediako.
Bediako performed for the Crimson Tide for 2 seasons in 2022 and 2023 earlier than declaring for the 2023 NBA draft. He went undrafted however signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs and performed for 3 totally different G League groups. In January, nevertheless, Bediako sued the NCAA to acquire rapid reinstatement after he was dominated ineligible. He was granted a short lived restraining order that allowed him to play 5 video games final season for Alabama earlier than a decide denied his movement for a preliminary injunction, ending his faculty profession for a second time.
“Common sense won a round today,” NCAA president Charlie Baker stated on the time. “The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students. College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away to go pro and now want to hit the ‘undo’ button at the expense of a teenager’s dream. While we’re glad the court upheld the rules our members actually want, one win doesn’t fix the national mess of state laws. It’s time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some current stability.”
Baker and the NCAA have beforehand drawn a line within the sand concerning eligibility for gamers who signed NBA contracts.
“The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract [including a two-way contract]”,” Baker said in a statement back in December.
Luis will likely have to follow a similar path to Bediako in order to gain eligibility.
The 6-foot-7 small forward was one of the best players in the country two seasons ago, earning Big East Player of the Year and second-team All-American honors after averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds. He helped lead the Red Storm to the Big East regular-season and conference tournament titles, also earning Big East tournament MVP honors.
LSU and head coach Will Wade, who was rehired by the Tigers again in March after being fired in 2022have leaned into the perceived uncertainty surrounding eligibility this spring, with Luis not the one potential addition with eligibility considerations. They’re additionally trying to add 25-year-old Israel native Yam Madar, who was chosen by the Boston Celtics within the second spherical of the 2020 NBA draft and has been enjoying high-level worldwide basketball since 2018.