LSU basketball roster tracker: Who’s eligible to play for Will Wade in 2026-27 season?

With the 2026-27 faculty basketball season lower than a month away, LSU coach Will Wade is nonetheless attempting to finalize his roster, which at present has simply 4 gamers on the staff’s official web site.

On Thursday, LSU gave a sneak peek of its prolonged roster towards McNeese — the place the place Wade coached earlier than taking the NC State job final offseason. The Tigers had 10 gamers listed on their roster for the primary scrimmage of the season, together with former UCLA stars Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark, in addition to Michael Ružić, who was cleared for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.

Final month, information broke that Márcio Santos — a participant LSU recruited and hoped to get eligible for the upcoming faculty basketball season – had signed a two-year contract with Kosner Baskonia, an expert staff based mostly in Spain. Santos was a part of LSU’s intentional recruiting class that options 5 gamers: Santos, Saliou Niang (Virtus Bologna), Brice Dessert (Anadolu Efes), Ružić (Joventut Badalona) and Gilad Levy, a 7-foot-3 middle from Israel. 

Wade spoke to reporters for the primary time this offseason final month and known as his roster and the way they are going concerning the course of “unconventional.”

“What we’re doing is unconventional,” Wade stated. “I perceive that. However, 20 years in the past, Airbnb was unconventional. Everyone stayed in a resort. Fifteen years in the past, you rode in a taxi all over the place. Now you are taking Uber. So, like, simply because it is unconventional does not imply it isn’t going to work. Now, it could not work. If it would not work, write about what an fool I’m. I perceive that. However simply because it is unconventional, like I advised our guys, we will be unconventional. We’ll be unapologetic about it. It’s what it’s. We’ll be unapologetic. That is who we’re. That is what we’re doing. That is the trail that we charted. We’ll go down it.”

Will Wade explains LSU’s ‘unconventional’ four-player roster: ‘We’ll be unapologetic about it’

Cameron Salerno

The trail to getting the opposite gamers Wade recruited from the worldwide ranks eligible for this season, in addition to RJ Luis Jr.,  Dent, and Clark, might get sophisticated. The identical might be stated for Niang, who was drafted No. 58 general by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2025.

So, who’s eligible to play and who continues to be in eligibility limbo? Right here is the place each participant on LSU’s roster stands proper now.

Incoming transfers 

Skyy Clark (Switch from UCLA)

Present standing: Eligible for now

Clark is at present cleared to play by the California courtroom. Clark, who beforehand performed for Illinois, Louisville and UCLA, is coming off a season through which he averaged 11.5 factors, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 26 video games. As a freshman at Illinois, Clark appeared in simply 13 video games and left this system midseason, citing private and household causes.

Donovan Dent (Switch from UCLA)

Present standing: Eligible for now*

Dent was a preseason CBS Sports activities All-American after transferring to UCLA from New Mexico final season. Dent, who is without doubt one of the greatest pure level guards within the sport, initially retired after the conclusion of this previous season from basketball however determined to pursue a fifth 12 months of eligibility. If he is cleared, he would have a robust argument as LSU’s greatest participant.

Mouhamed Dioubate (Switch from Kentucky)

Present standing: Cleared to play

Dioubate might be taking part in for his third SEC faculty this season after stops at Alabama and Kentucky. He transferred from Alabama to Kentucky final offseason and made 31 appearances (10 begins) for the Wildcats. Dioubate will possible be within the beginning lineup on opening evening.

Divine Ugochukwu (Switch from Michigan State)

Present standing: Cleared to play

Ugochukwu might be taking part in for his third faculty in three years, following stops at Miami and Michigan State. Final season, he began 12 video games for the Spartans and averaged 5.1 factors, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.

Abdi Bashir Jr.  (Switch from Kansas State)

Present standing: Cleared to play

Bashir is without doubt one of the greatest 3-point shooters in faculty basketball. He linked on 44.4% of his makes an attempt from past the arc final season in 18 video games at Kansas State. Earlier than becoming a member of the Wildcats, he performed two seasons at Monmouth, the place he averaged 20.1 factors as a sophomore.

Austin Nunez (Switch from UTSA)

Present standing: Cleared to play

Nunez might be taking part in for his fourth totally different faculty this season after stops at Arizona State (twice), Ole Miss and UTSA. Nunez is coming off the perfect statistical season of his faculty profession after averaging 9.8 factors in 22 video games at UTSA.

RJ Luis Jr. (Switch from St. John’s)**

Present standing: Eligible for now*

Luis is probably the most sophisticated case on LSU’s roster. Though he did not play in the summertime league again in 2025 after going undrafted, the previous Huge East Participant of the 12 months did play in three NBA preseason video games with the Boston Celtics earlier than lacking the complete 2025-26 season on account of damage. Luis handed up an opportunity to return to varsity final offseason and as a substitute stayed within the NBA Draft, regardless of being projected to go late within the second spherical. Luis wasn’t drafted, however signed a two-way take care of the Utah Jazz earlier than being traded to the Celtics earlier than the season began.

He’s at present eligible to play after a Baton Rouge choose granted him a preliminary injunction final month. Nevertheless, like most gamers in eligibility limbo on LSU’s roster, it will not be that straightforward. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has been outspoken about Luis’ case and filed an affidavit asking the courtroom to uphold NCAA guidelines that stop athletes from returning to the faculty stage. The SEC additionally drafted new guidelines that stop gamers, like Luis, who beforehand declared for the draft or signed an expert contract, from returning to varsity.

——

*Dent and Clark are a part of five-for-five circumstances and are at present eligible

**Luis is cleared to play through the courts. Nevertheless, the SEC’s guidelines stopping former professionals from returning to the faculty ranks will complicate his case.

Worldwide gamers

Márcio Santos

Present standing: Will not play for LSU

Santos is the primary worldwide participant from LSU’s recruiting class who will not be suiting up for the Tigers. Santos signed a two-year contract with Kosner Baskonia, an expert staff based mostly in Spain. He dedicated to LSU again in Might, however his path to turning into eligible was sophisticated after going undrafted within the 2023 NBA Draft and taking part in in summer time league with the Atlanta Hawks earlier than returning to play for Franca Basquetebol Clube.

Saliou Niang (Italy)

Present standing: Unknown

Niang is the lone participant on LSU’s roster who was beforehand drafted. He was chosen No. 58 general by the Cleveland Cavaliers within the 2025 NBA Draft, however he did not signal with the group. As a substitute, he performed for Virtus Bologna the next season.

Brice Dessert (Anadolu Efes)

Present standing: Unknown

The 6-foot-11 massive man dedicated to LSU again in Might after receiving curiosity from Kansas and Auburn, amongst others. In the course of the 2025-26 season, he performed for each the EuroLeague and the BSL. He appeared in 17 video games for Anadolu Efe.

Michael Ružić (Joventut Badalona)

Present standing: Cleared to play

Ružić at present performs for Joventut Badalona, an expert staff based mostly in Spain. He beforehand participated within the 2025 NBA Draft Mix earlier than opting to withdraw his identify from the draft. He was cleared to play for the 2026-27 season on Thursday, per his lawyer.

Gilad Levy (Israel)

Present standing: Unknown

The 7-foot-1 massive man was LSU’s most up-to-date intentional dedication. The 24-year-old has performed three years {of professional} basketball within the Israeli league. His eligibility for the upcoming season is unknown.

An outline of LSU’s present roster