LSU Furthers Eligibility Controversy By Signing Ex-NBA Player to 26-27 Roster
Even during the offseason, men's college basketball cannot stay out of the news cycle. This offseason has been defined by change. Issues such as tournament expansion, NIL, and the transfer portal have all been addressed one way or another. The NCAA has shown a willingness to be with the times and embrace the future for better or worse. Among all the issues staring down college basketball, none has loomed larger than the ever-changing rules of eligibility. Teams and coaches have tried to take advantage of these loopholes by signing ex-NBA players who logged little to no minutes. Following in their SEC rivals' footsteps, LSU and Head Coach Will Wade have signed another ex-NBA player, RJ Luis, in the past week, further blurring the lines of eligibility.
In December, NCAA President Charlie Baker made it clear that players who have signed NBA contracts will not be allowed back into NCAA basketball. Baker was quoted as saying, “The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract, including a two-way contract. As schools are increasingly recruiting individuals with international league experience, the NCAA is exercising discretion in applying the actual and necessary expenses bylaw to ensure that prospective student-athletes with experience in American basketball leagues are not at a disadvantage compared to their international counterparts.” Of course, this quote did not hold real weight. Midway through the 2025-2026 season, Alabama signed former NBA and G League player Charles Bediako, who received permission to play through Tuscaloosa County Judge Daniel Pruet. Although the one-time G League athlete only played five games for the Crimson Tide, Bama faced no penalties and made the NCAA Tournament as a four seed. This signing unknowingly set a precedent for professionals looking to return to amateur status.
The case for the LSU commit is not much different than the one used for Bediako. The former St. John’s Red Storm guard was a standout player for Rick Pitino in the 2024-2025 season. He earned Big East Player of the Year honors and ended up entering into the 2025 NBA Draft. After going undrafted, he eventually went on to sign with the Utah Jazz and subsequently traded to the Boston Celtics, who assigned him to their G League affiliate. The argument for Luis is that he never logged any minutes with the Boston Celtics, just like Alabama’s Bediako. Even if the NCAA does not grant him an eligibility waiver, the standout guard will still most likely file a lawsuit with his legal team to try to gain legal approval. Avoiding the NCAA ruling and forcing legal action may start to become the norm for eligibility seekers, a scary tactic that could negatively impact college sports.
The NCAA needs to take action on eligibility before it is too late. The recent five-in-five proposal has been discussed to iron out details and make the rules straightforward. This rule will be implemented next season, but it still has many questions. Courts have shown their biases to better their teams in not only college basketball, but college football as well. What good is a rule if it can immediately be passed? Whatever the solution may be, the NCAA is fighting a battle with eligibility that it may just end up losing.
