Skeptics around the country who didn’t take coach Will Wade’s preseason word that LSU had a full roster in place can now check for themselves.
The Tigers officially announced their 14-man list on their athletics website Wednesday morning following a series of eligibility developments reported this week and ahead of their third exhibition game Saturday at Florida State and season opener Nov. 3 against LSU-New Orleans (previously UNO).
Former St. John’s star R.J. Luis is the most notable absence after an acceptance by LSU, reported this week by CBS Sports insider Matt Norlander, that he would not be cleared to play at the end of an extended legal fight for his eligibility spanning months.
“We’re going to follow all the SEC protocols with him,” Wade told reporters Oct. 13. “I think it’s been pretty clear what the SEC protocols are on all that. He didn’t travel with us to McNeese and he hasn’t been rostered.”
The Tigers started a veteran backcourt of UCLA transfer Donovan Dent, Michigan State transfer Divine Ugochukwu and Kansas State transfer Abdi Bashir Jr. with senior forward Mo Dioubate (Kentucky) and freshman center Michael Ruzic (Spain) in their exhibition matchups with McNeese State and UCF.
Freshman forward Jordan Bender (Louisville, Ky.) played limited time of the bench in each contest, and freshman center Strake Pearson (Prosper, Texas) saw action against McNeese State.
Other veterans now officially listed on the roster include guard Skyy Clark (UCLA), Austin Nunez (UTSA) and Luke Stansbury (Stephen F. Austin) and center Brice Dessert (France).
Joining Ruzic, Bender and Pearson in a six-man freshman class are forward Saliou Niang (Italy), center Gilad Levy (Israel) and guard Bradley Fife (Catholic-Baton Rouge).
BIG day. LSU men’s basketball now with an official 14-man roster listed on its athletics website. https://t.co/XhL3XqN5nA
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 21, 2026
Dent led the team with 16.5 points, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game during the first two exhibitions in which the five available veterans saw extensive minutes.
Bashir averaged 16.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals, and Ogochukwu added 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.5 steals.
Ruzic has provided 13.0 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocked shots and 1.0 assists per outing, and Dioubate has had 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 steals.
But the rotation, both in terms of starting lineup and minute distribution, will shift considerably with a full complement of players now available with Niang, Dessert and Clark of particular note.
