RJ Luis Jr. Cleared to Play for LSU After Signing NBA Contracts

The college basketball landscape continues to grow more unique with each passing season as NIL and never-before-seen situations continue to arise.

And the latest news involves 2025 Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis Jr., who has been cleared to play for LSU this season after a Louisiana judge granted a preliminary injunction against the NCAA on Monday.

The ruling temporarily blocks the NCAA from enforcing its eligibility rules against Luis and allows him to immediately play for the Tigers.

RJ Luis Jr. Returns From the Professional Ranks

What makes his situation so interesting is that Luis has already left college basketball and signed an NBA contract.

After averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds at St. John's during the 2024-25 season, Luis went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft and then signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz. He was later traded to the Boston Celtics before eventually being waived.

Luis never actually appeared in a regular-season NBA or G League game, which was one of the biggest reasons this situation was even possible.

But it's still unique in the sense that he officially signed NBA contracts and spent time in NBA and G League training facilities, but will now go back to school at the collegiate level.

And the last time he played college basketball, he was one of the best players in the entire country.

LSU Adds a Proven College Basketball Star

For LSU, this is a significant addition. The Tigers are getting the former Big East Player of the Year and someone who immediately has the talent to be one of the best players in the SEC.

Beyond LSU, though, this is another example of just how much college athletics continues to change.

NIL and the transfer portal have already completely reshaped roster construction and player movement. Now we're continuing to see unique situations involving players attempting to move from the professional ranks back to the college level.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened, but Luis' specific circumstances make it another fascinating development.