Portal Profile: RJ Luis

By Hunt Palmer

Will Wade is turning over every rock.

This one might be the most controversial of the bunch. RJ Luis has been signed by two NBA organizations, and he’s attempting to play for LSU in 2026-27. Whether he can or not remains to be seen. That will likely be determined in a court room, not on a basketball court.

WHAT WE KNOW

Luis played three years of college basketball. He began his career at UMass where he played for one season. He transferred to St. John’s to play for legendary head coach Rick Pitino, and he became a star.

In 2024-25, Luis was named a second team All-American and the Big East Player of the Year when he averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Red Storm. He shot 44 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the free throw line.

The 6-foot-7 wing scored double figures in 33 of 35 games. He finished top five in the Big East in scoring and rebounding and led the conference in double-doubles. That helped him become the first St John’s consensus All-American since Ron Artest.

From his sophomore to junior season, he incorporated the three-point shot into his game. He only attempted 40 as a sophomore, and that number jumped to 137 in his third season. He shot 33 percent.

Luis decided to declare for the NBA Draft after three seasons. He was not drafted. The Utah Jazz signed him to a two-way deal and then traded him to the Boston Celtics. He never played in a G League or NBA regular season game and spent a significant portion of last year rehabbing a knee injury.

Technically speaking, Luis is in his fifth year to play four. If last year is a redshirt year, he would be a senior in 2026-27.

THE FIT

Luis is a great college basketball player. That much we already know. He can score from all three levels, but his best attribute is his attacking off the dribble. Of the players LSU has brought in, he’s the best pure scorer. He can win off the bounce, get to the bucket and finish almost at will.

If he upped his three-point percentage, he’d really be the entire package at the college level.

Should he make it to campus, he’d immediately be a pre-season All-SEC player and LSU’s primary scoring option from the wing. That would likely move Mohamed Dioubate to the bench.

Luis and Saliou Niang would be a pretty lethal pair of 6-foot-7 wings. Not to mention Abdi Bashir’s shooting ability at the position. Dioubate can really defend and rebound, too. With Bashir and Marcio Santos stretching teams with their shooting ability, Luis’s driving ability would be effective.

The Tigers are still without a lead guard. Yom Madar would fill that void to an extent if ruled eligible.

HUNT’S PROJECTION

Eligibility is the issue. The NCAA currently has a rule that said no player can sign with an NBA team and be eligible to play college basketball. Luis has signed with two. He just never played.

My projection is that he will not be eligible, but a court of law will likely have to make that call. Charles Bediako lost his case in Alabama. He has played in the G League.

If he can play, Luis is a game-changer for LSU. No question about that. I’ll just have to see that to believe it.