RJ Luis Jr. committed to LSU, but his eligibility status remains unresolved. A hearing on his eligibility is scheduled for next week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Luis led St. John's to a Big East title in 2025 and earned conference player of the year honors. After St. John's lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, he pursued professional opportunities, receiving brief looks from the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics last year but never appearing in an NBA game.
The NCAA adopted a new age-based eligibility rule in June, granting student-athletes up to five years of eligibility after high school graduation or at age 19, whichever comes first. The rule also eliminated most redshirts and waiver exemptions.
Within two months, a Colorado judge granted a preliminary injunction that gave student-athletes from the Class of 2022 an additional year of eligibility. That decision has sparked additional lawsuits nationwide, creating a system where eligibility can depend on whether an athlete pursues legal action.
Conference bylaws further complicate the picture, sometimes applying alongside broader NCAA rules. The result is a framework where eligibility determinations differ by athlete and lawsuit status, making it difficult for programs and players to know where they stand.
