Veteran guards, elite shooting, international size and a loaded coaching staff could make LSU dangerous immediately—if the Tigers’ biggest additions clear their remaining eligibility hurdles.
By Gee Bino | August 24, 2026
BATON ROUGE — Will Wade did not return to LSU to supervise another slow rebuilding project. He returned to construct a winner—and judging by the roster blueprint developing in Baton Rouge, he is assembling a potential basketball dynamo.
Wade was officially rehired on March 26, becoming the first LSU basketball coach since Harry Rabenhorst to return for a second stint. His first LSU run produced a 105-51 record, a 2019 SEC regular-season championship, three NCAA Tournament appearances and a Sweet 16 run. He then won two Southland Conference championships at McNeese before guiding NC State to 20 victories and the NCAA Tournament last season. LSU’s official coaching biography shows a career record of 266-119 with eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
That résumé explains why Wade is not interested in waiting three years to become competitive.
He is attempting to build a veteran, skilled and physically versatile team capable of challenging the SEC immediately.
An Important Roster Disclaimer
As of August 24, LSU’s official roster lists four players:
- Divine Ugochukwu
- Abdi Bashir Jr.
- Austin Nunez
- Mouhamed Dioubate
Donovan Dent, Skyy Clark, RJ Luis Jr. and LSU’s reported international additions have been connected to the Tigers through commitments and roster reporting, but several are not yet displayed on LSU’s official roster.
Dent and Clark are pursuing fifth-year eligibility through ongoing court proceedings. Luis faces a different eligibility question after signing an NBA two-way contract before being waived.
Therefore, the depth chart below represents LSU’s best-case projected roster—not a final eligibility declaration.
Dent and Clark Could Power LSU’s Backcourt
The most significant development in Wade’s rebuild was the addition of former UCLA point guard Donovan Dent.
Dent averaged 13.3 points, 7.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals last season. His 265 assists ranked third nationally and represented the second-highest single-season total in UCLA history. He committed to LSU after receiving a legal pathway to pursue another season of eligibility. WWL’s eligibility report outlines the court ruling and Dent’s production.
Dent is more than a scorer. He controls pace, creates paint touches and consistently manufactures quality shots for teammates. That is precisely the type of lead guard needed to organize a roster containing so many new pieces.
Skyy Clark, Dent’s UCLA backcourt partner, averaged 11.5 points and approximately two assists last season. Clark provides another experienced ball-handler capable of attacking closeouts, scoring off the bounce and defending opposing guards.
If both receive final clearance, Wade will have two veterans who already understand how to play together.
Behind them, Divine Ugochukwu offers size, athleticism and defensive upside at 6-foot-3. Austin Nunez supplies additional experience after playing at Arizona State, Ole Miss and UTSA. Nunez averaged nearly 10 points last season and has appeared in 84 collegiate games, according to WWL’s roster breakdown.
That gives LSU something every contender needs: multiple players capable of initiating the offense.
Abdi Bashir Gives Wade an Elite Floor Spacer
Abdi Bashir Jr. could become one of the most dangerous shooters in the SEC.
Bashir averaged 13.2 points in 18 games for Kansas State while making 44.4% of his three-point attempts. He connected on 67 triples before a foot injury ended his season and still ranked among the national leaders in three-pointers per game at the time of the injury.
His larger résumé is even more impressive. Bashir averaged 20.1 points at Monmouth in 2024-25 and led the country with 3.85 made three-pointers per game. Kansas State’s official player biography credits him with 245 career triples at a 39.9% success rate.
Defenses cannot help aggressively off a shooter like that.
With Dent breaking down the defense and Clark attacking from the opposite side, Bashir could receive some of the cleanest perimeter opportunities of his career.
Dioubate Brings SEC Muscle
Mouhamed “Mo” Dioubate supplies the physicality Wade will need against the SEC’s bigger frontcourts.
Dioubate averaged 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, one block and one steal for Kentucky last season. He previously spent two years at Alabama, giving him three seasons of SEC experience.
He is not simply a traditional power forward. Dioubate can defend multiple positions, attack the offensive glass, run the floor and provide the kind of high-energy possessions that change games. Kentucky’s official biography notes that he led the Wildcats in rebounding eight times and blocks 10 times.
Every skilled roster needs someone willing to perform the dirty work. Dioubate fits that assignment perfectly.
International Size Changes LSU’s Frontcourt
Wade has also targeted international players with professional experience.
Brice Dessert is a reported 6-foot-11, 247-pound center from France who played professionally in Turkey. His efficiency around the basket and experience against grown professionals could give LSU a powerful interior finisher.
Michael Ruzic is a 7-footer from Croatia with shooting touch, cutting ability and shot-blocking potential. At only 19, he could become the roster’s highest-upside developmental player.
Saliou Niang provides another fascinating option. The 6-foot-8 Senegalese forward reportedly averaged nine points and five rebounds for Virtus Bologna while shooting 37% from three. His length and defensive tools could allow Wade to employ bigger, switchable lineups.
Marcio Santos, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound Brazilian big man, adds another physical interior presence capable of scoring with his back to the basket.
These additions would give Wade the flexibility to play traditional size or use a faster, switch-heavy frontcourt.
The RJ Luis Wild Card
RJ Luis Jr. could determine whether LSU is merely improved or genuinely dangerous nationally.
Luis averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds at St. John’s during the 2024-25 season, earning Big East Player of the Year and Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
However, Luis later signed an NBA two-way contract before being waived without appearing in a professional game. NCAA rules have historically prevented players who sign two-way contracts from returning to college, leaving LSU to seek a waiver or another legal remedy. Reuters reported that Luis would have one season available if declared eligible.
If cleared, Luis immediately becomes a projected starter and LSU’s most proven high-level scorer.
If he is unavailable, Bashir likely moves into the starting wing position, with Niang receiving additional minutes.
BREAKING: Court Ruling Clears the Way for RJ Luis
Will Wade’s LSU rebuild received its biggest victory yet Monday when Judge Ronald R. Johnson granted RJ Luis Jr. a preliminary injunction in East Baton Rouge Parish court.
The ruling prevents the NCAA from immediately enforcing the eligibility rule that threatened to keep Luis out of the 2026-27 season. It clears the way for the former Big East Player of the Year to enroll, join LSU’s roster and compete for the Tigers while the larger legal case continues.
Luis’ eligibility had been questioned because he signed an NBA two-way contract after going undrafted in 2025. He was eventually waived without appearing in an NBA or G League regular-season game.
Luis and his attorneys argued that preventing him from returning to college was unfair, particularly when international players with professional experience are routinely allowed to compete in the NCAA.
Judge Johnson’s decision does not represent a final ruling on the entire case, and the NCAA could appeal or seek a stay. For now, however, LSU has the legal protection needed to move forward with Luis as an eligible member of Wade’s roster.
That is enormous news for the Tigers.
Luis averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds during his final season at St. John’s. He was named the 2025 Big East Player of the Year, earned first-team All-Big East honors and was selected as the Big East Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
At 6-foot-7 and approximately 215 pounds, Luis gives LSU a proven featured scorer who can attack the basket, finish through contact, rebound from the wing and defend multiple positions.
Wade no longer has to build his projected starting lineup around the possibility that Luis will be unavailable. Barring an appeal that changes the ruling, Luis now projects as LSU’s starting small forward and offensive centerpiece.
Updated Projected LSU Depth Chart
| Position | Projected Starter | Primary Backup | Additional Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point guard | Donovan Dent* | Divine Ugochukwu | Austin Nunez |
| Shooting guard | Skyy Clark* | Austin Nunez | Abdi Bashir Jr. |
| Small forward | RJ Luis Jr. | Abdi Bashir Jr. | Saliou Niang* |
| Power forward | Mouhamed Dioubate | Saliou Niang* | Marcio Santos* |
| Center | Brice Dessert* | Michael Ruzic* | Marcio Santos* |
* Reported or committed additions awaiting final placement on LSU’s official roster.
Wade Has Built a Serious Staff
Wade has surrounded himself with an unusually experienced coaching group.
LSU’s official staff directory lists:
| Staff Member | Role |
| Will Wade | Head coach |
| Rick Stansbury | Associate head coach |
| Johnny Jones | Assistant coach |
| Damon Stoudamire | Assistant coach |
| Vernon Hamilton | Assistant coach |
| Greg Goldin | Chief of staff and director of performance |
| Jay Smith | Director of player development |
| Nick Flory | Director of operations |
| Brady Jones | Director of scouting and video |
| Isaac Stansbury | Director of analytics and scouting |
| Shawn Eddy | Senior associate athletic trainer |
| Marcus Brock | Strength and conditioning coach |
Rick Stansbury brings more than two decades of head-coaching experience and previously won an SEC regular-season championship at Mississippi State. Damon Stoudamire adds NBA playing and coaching experience, while former LSU head coach Johnny Jones understands the program, conference and recruiting territory.
Brady Jones and Isaac Stansbury strengthen LSU’s film and analytics operation. Marcus Brock oversees physical development, while veteran trainer Shawn Eddy returns for his 20th season working with LSU men’s basketball.
This is not the support staff of a program planning to remain near the bottom of the SEC.
What Makes This Roster Dangerous?
LSU’s projected strengths are clear:
- Elite playmaking: Dent could immediately become one of the SEC’s best point guards.
- Proven shooting: Bashir forces defenses to defend LSU well beyond the arc.
- Multiple ball-handlers: Dent, Clark, Ugochukwu and Nunez can all initiate offense.
- SEC-tested toughness: Dioubate understands the physical demands of the conference.
- Frontcourt versatility: Dessert, Ruzic, Niang and Santos present different combinations of size, shooting and defense.
- Veteran leadership: Most of the projected rotation has extensive collegiate or professional experience.
The primary concern will be chemistry. Wade is building almost an entirely new team, and talent alone will not solve defensive communication, rebounding assignments or late-game execution.
The second concern is availability. LSU’s ceiling depends heavily on players whose status could remain connected to NCAA rulings, international clearance or waiver decisions.
Big Q’s Take
This court victory changes the entire outlook surrounding Will Wade’s LSU rebuild.
Before the ruling, Luis was the roster’s biggest unanswered question. Now, he becomes its potential centerpiece.
LSU can surround a proven 18-point scorer with Donovan Dent’s elite playmaking, Skyy Clark’s secondary creation, Abdi Bashir Jr.’s three-point shooting and Mouhamed Dioubate’s physicality. International additions such as Brice Dessert, Michael Ruzic and Saliou Niang could provide the length needed to compete against the SEC’s deepest frontcourts.
Wade is no longer assembling a team that merely looks improved on paper. If Dent, Clark and LSU’s remaining additions receive final clearance, the Tigers will possess a legitimate NCAA Tournament roster with enough offensive firepower to challenge the SEC’s upper tier.
The NCAA can still appeal the Luis ruling, so the legal battle may not be completely finished. But today belongs to Wade, Luis and LSU.
The former Big East Player of the Year is heading to Baton Rouge—and the LSU basketball dynamo just added its most powerful weapon.
Tiger Nation, does the addition of RJ Luis make LSU an immediate NCAA Tournament team?