RJ Luis won’t play for LSU after the SEC ruled him ineligible, ending coach Will Wade’s effort to get the former St. John’s star cleared. The Tigers, however, received approval for NBA draft pick Salou Niang and are expected to get clearance for French center Brice Dessert, giving LSU a significant roster boost.

By the Numbers
  • RJ Luis last played college basketball in March 2025.
  • Salou Niang was selected 58th in the 2025 NBA Draft.
  • Brice Dessert is a 23-year-old, 7-foot center.
Yes, But

Niang and Dessert’s eligibility differs from Luis’ case: neither had enrolled in college or signed an NBA-level contract, and the NCAA chose not to apply its new restriction to Niang retroactively. LSU still faces separate eligibility cases involving starting-caliber guards Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark.

State of Play
  • Niang has been cleared by the NCAA; Dessert is expected to be cleared, with no separate SEC basis to block him.
  • Dent is currently eligible, while Clark’s case remains unresolved.
  • LSU and the SEC remain involved in federal litigation over college eligibility rules.
What's Next

LSU’s next exhibition is Saturday at Florida State. The Tigers open their season Nov. 3 against LSU New Orleans, then face Gonzaga on Nov. 14 in Spokane.

Bottom Line

LSU loses Luis but could still field a tournament-caliber team if its newly cleared international players deliver and the remaining guard eligibility cases break in the Tigers’ favor.