More than two months after RJ Luis was granted an injunction in a Baton Rouge courtroom to play basketball for LSU, attorneys for the former St. John’s standout are seeking another avenue to get the guard into a purple and gold uniform.
Attorneys for Luis filed a petition Tuesday in state district court in Baton Rouge, asking a judge to block the Southeastern Conference from penalizing LSU if coach Will Wade adds him to his roster.
According to the school’s website for athletics, LSU lists a roster of 14 players, one below the NCAA maximum for men’s basketball.
Luis is being represented by Tony Clayton of Baton Rouge and Elliot Abrams of Raleigh, N.C. They have also asked a judge to prevent LSU from following any mandate the SEC’s set blocking Luis from playing.
The petition from Luis’ attorneys was filed on the same day Judge Anne Marie Carney set a hearing date of Nov. 18 in a Birmingham, Ala. courtroom to hear the SEC’s latest motion in its lawsuit against LSU, per a report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger.
Luis was under contract with the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz but never played in a game with either organization.
The SEC, when contacted for comment by ESPN, offered no comment.
The league had established guidelines prohibiting teams from adding players with major professional experience to their rosters.
The SEC ratcheted its efforts in September to enforce its rules, announcing that commissioner Greg Sankey had the autonomy to fire coaches, fine universities for up to half of their athletics budget and limit a school’s voting rights on league issues.
LSU opted not to roster football players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris the week before the opening game with Clemson because of a threat from the SEC who indicated league members would vote to remove LSU from the conference.
Wade apparently had abandoned his pursuit of adding Luis to his 2026-27 team.
In a federal case, the SEC filed a federal case that indicated LSU was violating the league’s First Amendment right to freedom of association because they were trying to skirt its rules.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who has been named as a defendant in the case, has filed briefs in support of LSU and called for a dismissal of the case.
