The LSU Tigers are reportedly giving up their fight to get RJ Luis eligible for the 2026-27 season, according to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports.
The SEC was unwilling to clear the former St. Mary's star after he signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz and an Exhibit 10 contract with the Boston Celtics. While he received an injunction from a judge making him eligible, his return would have violated the SEC's rules against professional players returning to college.
Norlander also had some good news for LSU, reporting that international forward Saliou Niang has been cleared by the NCAA, and French center Brice Dessert will be cleared soon, making both eligible for the upcoming season.
Both are massive additions for the Tigers. Niang is originally
from Senegal, but has spent the past several seasons playing professionally in Italy. He was drafted in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but reportedly never signed a contract with them, making him eligible.
He played for Virtus Bologna in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague last season. In 76 games, he averaged 8.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
Dessert, who checks in at 7 feet, gives them another rim protector. He played in 43 games last year for Anadolu Efes, competeting in the EuroLeague and the Basketball Super League. He averaged 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 16.7 minutes per game.
LSU is set to open the season against LSU New Orleans on Saturday, Nov. 3. They will play their final exhibition game on Saturday against the FSU Seminoles in Tallahassee, Florida. The exhibition will be streamed on ESPN+ and will start at noon CT.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: RJ Luis not expected to be eligible for LSU basketball
