Judge Clears Former St. John’s Star RJ Luis to Play for LSU

WHO:

NY Post - RJ Luis Jr. is a former St. John’s basketball player seeking eligibility to play for LSU.

Fox News - The parties involved in the eligibility dispute include Luis, LSU, the Southeastern Conference (SEC), SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, LSU basketball coach Will Wade, and attorney Tony Clayton.

Fox News - Clayton also represents former LSU football players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris in eligibility litigation.

NOLA.com - The article identifies a Baton Rouge judge as the official who made Luis eligible to play; the excerpt provided does not name the judge.

WHAT:

NY Post - A court injunction protects LSU from SEC penalties for having Luis on its roster, according to The Advocate.

Fox News - A Louisiana judge granted Luis an injunction allowing him to practice and play for LSU, and protecting the school from SEC penalties while the injunction is in effect.

Fox News - Clayton said Luis sued LSU and the SEC because of Sankey’s actions and threats. Clayton said, “LSU may be intimidated by ‘Kim Jong’ Sankey, but we're not.”

Fox News - Clayton said LSU and coach Wade should be “forced to allow RJ to play basketball” without the SEC’s threat preventing him from exercising what Clayton called his “fundamental right to play basketball.”

Fox News - The SEC’s eligibility rules bar Luis from playing for LSU because he signed an NBA contract or has professional experience.

Fox News - A Louisiana judge previously ruled that Wright and Harris could be rostered by LSU without SEC punishment; LSU later kept them off the team amid the SEC’s threatened action and a federal lawsuit filed by the conference.

Fox News - Fox reported that attorneys for Wright and Harris could pursue civil damages against the SEC, arguing that the conference’s threat prevented the players from being rostered.

Fox News - The report raised the possibility that Luis’s case could also seek monetary damages or lead to a settlement involving athletes connected to LSU.

WHERE:

Fox News - The injunction hearing took place at a courthouse in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Fox News - The separate federal lawsuit by the SEC against LSU is being litigated in federal court.

WHEN:

Fox News - The injunction allows Luis to practice and play until a Nov. 13 hearing in Baton Rouge.

WHY:

Fox News - Luis challenged the SEC’s eligibility restriction, which the report links to his NBA contract or professional experience.

NY Post - The injunction prevents the SEC from imposing penalties on LSU for including Luis on its roster.

A Louisiana judge has granted former St. John’s player RJ Luis Jr. an injunction allowing him to practice and play basketball for LSU while shielding the school from SEC penalties. Luis is challenging the conference’s rule barring him because of his NBA contract or professional experience, and his attorney says the SEC’s threats are keeping LSU and coach Will Wade from letting him play. The injunction remains in effect until a Nov.