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The SEC has expanded its scrutiny of LSU athletics beyond the football program, pointing to the men's basketball team's recruiting methods in a new federal court filing submitted Tuesday, Oct. 13. The conference's response opposes LSU's motion to dismiss the SEC's lawsuit, arguing that the university's basketball recruiting practices further demonstrate what the SEC describes as a pattern of disregarding conference rules and failing to maintain institutional control.
In the legal documents, the SEC highlighted that LSU's brief never asserts a commitment to adhering to the Professionalism Rules, maintaining institutional control, or refraining from interfering with the SEC's First Amendment right of expressive association. The filing suggests that even if LSU made such claims, they would be insubstantial given the university's ongoing and open defiance of SEC regulations.
The SEC specifically points to head coach Will Wade's recruitment of former NBA player RJ Luis Jr. Luis, who played the previous two seasons at St. John's before signing professional contracts, is alleged by the SEC to have been practicing with LSU's basketball team. According to the filing, LSU permitted Luis to practice but has refused to publicly and definitively state that he will not be included on the roster.
During a video interview for SEC Tipoff Media Days on Tuesday, Oct. 13—which he and the team were originally scheduled to attend in person—Wade said that Luis 'hasn't been rostered' and did not travel with the team for its exhibition against McNeese. 'We're going to follow all the SEC protocols with him,' Wade said. 'I think it's been pretty clear what the SEC protocols all are on that.'
The SEC's filing also raises concerns about LSU's recruitment of international professional basketball players whose eligibility remains uncertain. Wade has taken an unconventional approach to rebuilding LSU's roster in his return to Baton Rouge, targeting players with professional experience while navigating eligibility questions under conference and NCAA rules. As of Tuesday, LSU's online roster lists 10 players, but additional players may become available depending on eligibility rulings.
The SEC's filing also references Wade's public comments about this strategy. In an ESPN article published on Sept. 23, Wade was quoted as saying: 'We're going to be unapologetic about it. This is who we are. This is what we're doing. This is the path that we charted. We're going to go down it, and that's fine.'
The SEC's lawsuit was initially triggered by LSU football's pursuit of former professional players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, neither of whom ultimately appeared on LSU's football roster. In its response, the SEC compared LSU's argument that the case has been 'mooted' by deciding not to roster Wright and Harris to 'saying that someone caught his hand in the cookie jar has cured the problem by pulling it out.' The conference contends that parties at LSU 'still have their hands in the jar' and that the issues extend beyond the two football players, now citing Wade's basketball program as another reason the dispute remains unresolved and the lawsuit should not be dismissed.
'LSU's men's basketball program continues to defy the Professionalism Rules and its head coach promises to be 'unapologetic about it,'' the filing states.
An LSU representative declined to comment to The Daily Advertiser when asked about the SEC's opposition to dismissing the lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon has not yet ruled on LSU's motion to dismiss the case. According to a court order by Judge Axon on Sept. 28, LSU's defense has until Oct. 20 to respond.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [email protected]. Cory Diaz covers LSU athletics for The Daily Advertiser and contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU basketball's recruitment of pros cited in new SEC court filing.
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