BIRMINGHAM — RJ Luis Jr., the 2025 Big East Player of the Year who previously signed contracts with NBA teams, is currently not a member of LSU’s 2026–27 team due to ongoing eligibility concerns, according to ESPN. 

Head coach Will Wade spoke to reporters via video call on Tuesday after dense fog canceled his flight to SEC media days. Wade confirmed the Tigers will strictly adhere to conference guidelines—even after Luis secured a preliminary injunction in a Louisiana court clearing him to play following two-way contracts with the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics. Luis never appeared in an NBA game.

"We're going to follow all the SEC protocols with him," Wade said. "I think it's been pretty clear what the SEC protocols all are on that. He didn't travel with us to [our exhibition against McNeese], and he hasn't been rostered."

The 6-foot-7 guard averaged 18.2 points per game during the 2024–25 season, earning AP Second-Team All-American honors before attempting an NBA transition. His current absence marks a significant setback for an LSU squad already navigating widespread roster uncertainty.

Multiple fifth-year and international players on Wade’s squad continue to face their own eligibility questions. LSU listed just four active players on its official men’s basketball roster earlier this week, though that number climbed to 10 ahead of Tuesday’s media availability—a figure that still relies heavily on walk-on players.

Wade utilized only seven players in last week's 63–60 exhibition victory over McNeese; the LSU head coach expressed full confidence in his approach ahead of the Nov. 3 season opener against LSU New Orleans.

"We've got a pretty good idea of who we're going to play. We've got a pretty good idea of who is going to be eligible," Wade told the SEC Network. "We don't worry about what anybody else is saying. We'll see how it all shakes out. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. It's on me. I'm the one who made the decisions. But we feel very confident with the guys we have. With our full roster, we will have a puncher's chance in all of the games we'll play."