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LSU coach Will Wade says his program has been practicing this fall with 15 players, but the university has so far refused to publish a full roster. With the Tigers’ exhibition opener against McNeese about two weeks away, the decision has left reporters and fans uncertain which players will be available this season.
What LSU has released — and what it hasn’t
LSU’s official roster currently lists only four players — all transfers: Austin Nunez, Abdi Bashir Jr., Mouhamed Dioubate and Divine Ugochukwu. After a recent press conference, the outlet FOS asked LSU Athletics for a complete list of those practicing with the team; a school spokesperson declined to provide one.
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Wade told reporters he could make the roster public “today,” but declined, saying there were “some reasons why I’m not.” He added that every player practicing with the program is signed, enrolled and on the practice floor.
Why the program is keeping names private
Wade framed the decision as protection for players. “We’re always gonna protect our kids,” he said, and suggested confidentiality was in some athletes’ best interests. He acknowledged the approach is unusual.
He also joked about the team’s early training — noting his squad had been “practicing two-on-two” because only four names appear on the public roster — then defended the unorthodox methods as a recruiting and roster-management strategy.
Timing and eligibility rules
The NCAA requires players to be cleared as eligible to take part in official practices, but allows a temporary window. According to rules shared with FOS, teams may use a 45-day grace period during which players can practice before final certification.
Final rosters must be submitted the day before the first regular-season game. Anyone not listed on that submission cannot practice or compete that season, though exceptions exist for midseason replacements after season-ending injuries.
Players Wade discussed and those reported by others
While refusing to publish a full roster, Wade spoke about several individuals during the press conference. He named former UCLA players Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark, both of whom successfully challenged an age-based eligibility policy and won an injunction to return for a fifth year.
Wade also described three international additions he expects to help the frontcourt: Michael Ruzic (Croatia), Saliou Niang (Senegal) and Brice Dessert (France). He said they will add “much-needed height” and physicality.
Independently, FOS counted 13 players currently with the program. That tally combined LSU’s four publicly listed players, the names Wade mentioned, athletes with social-media confirmation, and outside recruiting reports.
Other roster notes
Wade confirmed Brazilian guard Marcio Santos is no longer with the team and said, “you’d have to ask the NCAA on that.” The NCAA declined to comment, noting it typically does not discuss individual eligibility cases.
Additional players reported to be in the mix include Gilad Levy (Israel), transfer Luke Stansbury and incoming freshman Jordan Bender. Stansbury and Bender have posted content suggesting they are on LSU’s roster; Levy’s public profiles do not reference LSU. A representative for Levy’s agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The RJ Luis Jr. situation
One notable name Wade would not confirm was former St. John’s guard RJ Luis Jr. Wade said he declined to name Luis because the SEC “—they hold everybody’s words against them,” adding he wanted to be cautious. He said the program will follow conference and governing-body processes for any eligibility questions.
Luis earlier this summer won an injunction allowing him to return to college basketball after entering the NBA Draft process and signing professional contracts. Under current NCAA rules, signing certain professional deals can disqualify a player from college competition. The SEC recently adopted a policy barring athletes who were rostered on NBA or G League teams from returning to SEC programs — a change tied to several high-profile recruiting attempts and ensuing legal friction between the conference and LSU.
What to watch next
Wade said the staff is still “working through eligibility” for three or four players and that the program might not have a finalized, public roster in time for the Oct. 8 exhibition against McNeese. He expects any unresolved matters to be settled before the regular-season opener on Nov. 3.
Asked about the unconventional approach to roster disclosure, Wade compared it to past innovations people once viewed skeptically, and invited critics to reassess the method only after results are known. “If it doesn’t work, write about what an idiot I am,” he said.
