RJ Luis Reportedly Returning to CBB, Signed 2-Way Contract with Jazz After 2025 NBA Draft

One year after signing a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz and later joining the Boston Celtics' G League team, RJ Luis is returning to college for the 2026-27 season.

Per Pete Nakos of On3.com, Luis has signed with LSU for the upcoming college basketball season.

Nakos added that Luis is not currently eligible to play, but he will "likely" file a lawsuit that, if successful, will allow him to suit up for the Tigers.

The NCAA Division I board of directors recently directed the D-I cabinet to advance an age-based eligibility concept that would permit athletes up to five years of eligibility.

There's nothing in that particular proposal about an athlete who left college to turn pro, then attempts to return to college. It has become a more common tactic for athletes in recent years with the rise of NIL across college sports.

Charles Bediako played three seasons in the G League from 2023 to '26, then returned to college basketball with Alabama in January. He appeared in five games for the Crimson Tide after receiving a temporary restraining order that made him eligible to play, but a judge later denied the injunction that ended his season.

Luis played three seasons of college basketball from 2022 to '25. He spent the final two years at St. John's, winning Big East Player of the Year in 2024-25.

After the 2024-25 season ended, Luis announced he was entering both the NBA draft and transfer portal. He went undrafted by NBA teams, then signed a two-way contract with the Jazz to start his professional career.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeff Borzello noted Luis would have been the top-ranked player in the transfer portal if he had decided to remain in college last year.

Luis was traded by Utah to the Boston Celtics in August for Georges Niang and two future second-round picks. He was waived by the Celtics prior to the start of the regular season, but was re-signed on an Exhibit 10 contract before being assigned to their G League affiliate.

If Luis is able to gain eligibility, it would be a huge boon to an LSU team that needs an infusion of high-ceiling talent. Head coach Will Wade is returning to the program after spending the last four seasons at North Carolina State.

The Tigers are coming off a 60-70 record since 2022-23 under Matt McMahon with no NCAA tournament appearances. Their last tournament win was over St. Bonaventure in the first round in 2021.

Luis averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in 35 appearances for St. John's during the 2024-25 campaign.