Another Former Celtic Signs Deal To Return To College Basketball

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College basketball is in a weird place, and new LSU Tigers head coach Will Wade is taking full advantage of it. 

Yesterday, I wrote a story about 2020 second-round draft pick Yam Madar committing to LSU after a six-year professional career. Madar reportedly accepted a $5 million NIL deal that took him out of the EuroLeague and into the NCAA.

Hours after I hit post, another story dropped reporting that Wade and the Tigers had once again gone to the former Boston Celtics pipeline to find a commit. 

BREAKING: Former pro guard RJ Luis Jr. has signed with LSU, @PeteNakos reports🐯

Luis was the 2025 Big East player of the year.https://t.co/mzMe9luCgHpic.twitter.com/ZdUDJKoec3

— On3 (@On3) May 19, 2026

RJ Luis Jr.’s story is somehow even more bizarre than Madar’s. 

“After a terrific 2024-25 campaign for the Red Storm, Luis entered the transfer portal and entered the NBA draft,” wrote ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. “He remained in the draft past the withdrawal deadline before going undrafted. Luis then signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Boston Celtics in early August in exchange for Georges Niang and two future second-round picks.”

He did not make the Celtics team. He was waived and sent to Maine to play for the G League affiliate. However, an injury prevented him from ever suiting up for the Maine Celtics. 

Luis went from a conference player of the year to an undrafted free agent before being traded for in exchange for an NBA vet and some serious draft capital, only to end up right back where he started two years later.

Stories like this are going to dominate the college basketball offseason as athletes and universities continue to see how far they can push the NCAA’s flimsy eligibility rules. 

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