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Will Wade Stirs Up NCAA Again After Former NBA Draft Pick Commits to LSU
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- Will Wade Stirs Up NCAA Again After Former NBA Draft Pick Commits to LSU
Will Wade has a long history of testing the boundaries in college basketball .
The current LSU coach was fired during his first stint in Baton Rouge following the NCAA 's sweeping investigation into recruiting violations and impermissible payments.
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He later rebuilt his career at McNeese, made a brief stop at NC State, and returned to LSU carrying the same reputation that has followed him everywhere: aggressive recruiter, relentless roster builder, and college hoops' most recognizable villain.
Now, the 2026 offseason has turned that reputation into full-blown internet theater.
First came Israeli guard Yam Madar , a 25-year-old former second-round NBA Draft pick who reportedly landed a $5 million deal and was granted special eligibility to play for LSU next season.
Then, on Tuesday morning, former St. John's star RJ Luis Jr. committed to LSU despite looming eligibility questions after spending time under contract with the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics during the 2025-26 NBA season.
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Now, Wade's latest eyebrow-raising move has arrived.
Pro forward Saliou Niang , the Cleveland Cavaliers ' No. 58 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has also reportedly committed to LSU.
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Fans online were ready to unload on Wade.
"Absolute joke just like Will Wade," one user wrote .
"Will Wade is the biggest joker in the sport," another added .
"How shameless can one school be 😭😭," another commented .
"Will Wade is basically testing the NCAA's gangsta and I kinda love it. With that being said, they gotta get rid of this precedent of letting pro players come back to college," one other fan replied .
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"Will Wade is a villain," another wrote .
"Wade is the biggest slimeball of all time," another commented .
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 29: Head coach Will Wade of the LSU Tigers attends a game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Houston Rockets at Smoothie King Center on March 29, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
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Niang, the 6-foot-6 Senegalese-Italian wing, was born in Dakar, raised in Italy, developed through the Italian system, played for Aquila Trento and later Virtus Bologna, and emerged as one of Europe's more intriguing young forwards.
Cleveland selected him with the 58th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after his rise through Italian professional basketball.
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On the surface, it seems like a player who would be ineligible to compete in college, but NCAA eligibility rules remain extremely complicated when professional experience enters the picture.
International players sometimes retain eligibility depending on the nature of contracts, compensation structures, and competition history. But players who have signed NBA deals face a much steeper climb.
NCAA president Charlie Baker previously stated the NCAA "has not and will not" grant eligibility to athletes who signed NBA contracts, a position highlighted during the Charles Bediako legal battle .
That's why LSU's recent moves have caught so much attention.
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Luis appears likely headed toward a waiver fight or potential legal challenge if he hopes to suit up. Niang's case could hinge on the exact details of his professional status, overseas contracts, and NCAA interpretation.
The important point to note here is that just because these players have committed to LSU doesn't mean they will be cleared for eligibility.
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