Former St. John's star RJ LUIS cleared to play at LSU by local judge despite signing two contracts with NBA teams. (photo courtesy of St. John's Athletics)
A Baton Rouge judge granted LSU basketball signee RJ Luis a preliminary injunction allowing him to return to college basketball after signing two NBA and G League contracts. Luis’s attorney, Elliot Abrams, told WBRZ in Baton Rouge that with NIL and revenue sharing allowing schools to pay athletes directly, the NCAA is now a professional sports league.
“And then you start drawing these arbitrary distinctions and saying that ‘this is too much’ or ‘that is too much’; all of these things. Every time someone challenges an arbitrary decision of the NCAA, the NCAA cries wolf,” Abrams said.
The 2025 Big East Player of the Year, Luis never played in a professional game due to injury. Judge Ronald Johnson ruled he did not technically play professionally. NCAA rules state a player who simply signs a pro contract is not eligible to return. Abrams told WBRZ this decision is not the death of the NCAA.
“This is just a judge forcing the NCAA to live up to the law, as so many judges have had to do, because the NCAA has decided to try to draw distinctions that don’t stand up to reason,” Abrams noted.
The NCAA is likely to appeal the decision, and the SEC could take action to rule Luis ineligible after commissioner Greg Sankey came out against Luis’s return. For now, the 23-year-old will be allowed to practice with the Tigers. His attorney, Tony Clayton, told WBRZ he shared an emotional embrace with Luis after the ruling.
“And I didn’t want to hug him too long because I didn’t want to cry; but I felt a big relief lift off of that kid’s shoulders,” Clayton said.
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