The name “Will Wade” is being treated like a curse word these days, and for good reason. The new/old LSU head coach (I’ll explain that later) has come under fire once again for piecing together one of the most controversial rosters in college basketball which includes Divine Ugochukwu.
While Ugochukwu is probably the least controversial player on the roster, he’s surrounded by guys who have either graduated college or who have been playing pro ball overseas for years.
Just this week, Wade added two more controversial names to the roster as 2025 Big East Player of the Year and former Boston Celtic RJ Luis fought for eligibility and was granted it (for now) and he’s now joining the Tigers for 2026-27 along with 7-foot-3 Israeli pro Gilda Levy.
The team that he’s putting together might be the most morally bankrupt roster in college basketball.
If they all get deemed officially eligible to play, LSU will have an objectively really good squad in the SEC.
— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) August 25, 2026
Likely one of the oldest teams to ever play the sport with 5 different players with pro experience. Likely not fully done adding yet either...🐅 pic.twitter.com/MxOzGSDNTB
No, the players aren’t morally bankrupt (although there’s a case for that with pros returning to college) but Wade knows what he’s doing is against the wishes of just about every other coach in college basketball and he just doesn’t care. He’s never cared. It’s why he was caught on a federal wiretap back in 2019 discussing paying a recruit and he was fired by LSU in 2022 for recruiting violations. Wade has since been re-hired by LSU after spending time at McNeese State and one year at NC State.
He’s never cared about anyone else but himself and LSU clearly doesn’t mind.
So when he began to add pros to his roster like Saliou Niang (four years as a pro in Italy), Marcio Santos (played pro ball in Israel), Brice Dessert (four years of pro ball in France), Luis (was on a two-way NBA contract), and Levy (Israeli pro), it should have been no surprise.
To top things off, he somehow got Donovan Dent to come out of retirement, seek an extra year of eligibility, and commit to LSU.
Shameless.
College basketball fans will be hate-watching LSU all year
Unfortunately, Ugochukwu is going to be playing for the most hated team in college basketball this season and while he didn’t sign up for that, he knew what he was getting into with Wade.
The re-hired LSU coach promised to return NC State to glory and spoke about his vision for the program and even shot down rumors of his interest in returning to Baton Rouge only to leave the Wolfpack high-and-dry after just one season to go back to the school that fired him for recruiting violations back in 2022.
Now he’s back doing shady stuff once again and it’s ruining college basketball for everyone.
No, the NCAA has not come down hard on LSU for adding overseas pros and G-Leaguers to the roster, but college basketball fans are hoping that time will come.
A lot of Michigan State fans will be rooting for Ugochukwu to do well next season, but unfortunately everyone is hoping that the Tigers don’t win a single game.
That “LSU is ineligible for postseason play” ruling is going to be glorious. It may not come this year, but Wade will eventually get LSU into hot water again. The signs are there.
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