Tag: LSU Men’s Basketball

LSU basketball’s Jordan Wright named to First-Team All-Louisiana squad

Jordan Wright was a major reason for LSU’s improvement this past season.

After an impressive season at LSU in his final season of eligibility, graduate student men’s basketball guard [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] has been named to the First-Team All-Louisiana basketball squad by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Wright, who came in this season as a transfer from Vanderbilt after playing four seasons with the Commodores, averaged 15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals in 2023-24. The Waggaman, Louisiana, native who attended The Dunham School scored in double figures in 18 straight games at one point this season.

While it was another difficult season in Baton Rouge, Wright played a key role as the team improved from 2-16 to 9-9 in SEC play, earning a bid to the NIT in the process.

Here’s the full All-Louisiana team.

First Team

Shahada Wells, G, Gr., McNeese, Fort Worth, Texas

17.8 points per game, 4.7 assists per game, Southland Conference Player of the Year, SLC Newcomer of the Year, Major Madness First-Team All-American

Isaiah Crawford, F, Gr., Louisiana Tech, Fort Worth, Texas
16.3 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, Conference USA Player of the Year, CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, NABC All-District First Team

Daniel Batcho, F, R-Jr., Louisiana Tech, Paris, France
15.2 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game, Conference USA Newcomer of the Year

Diante Smith, F, Sr., Nicholls, Fort Walton Beach, Florida
16.0 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southland Conference

Jordan Wright, F, Gr., LSU, Waggaman, Louisiana
15.1 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game

Player of the Year: Shahada Wells, G, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Shahada Wells, G, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: John Awoke, Bossier Parish Community College
Coach of the Year: Will Wade, McNeese

Second Team

Kobe Julien, F, R-Jr., UL Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
17.3 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, Second-Team All-Sun Belt

Kevin Cross, F, Sr., Tulane, Little Rock, Arkansas
17.5 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, Third-Team All-American Athletic Conference

Christian Shumate, F, Jr., McNeese, Chicago, Illinois
12.1 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year

Nick Caldwell, G/F, Sr., Southeastern Louisiana, Prairieville, Louisiana
15.4 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southland Conference

Kintavious Dozier, G, Jr., Grambling, Lanett, Alabama
13.0 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference

Third Team

Kashie Natt, G, Jr., LSU-Alexandria, Rayville, Louisiana
17.4 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game, Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Year

Jordan Johnson, G, Sr., New Orleans, Memphis, Tennessee
21.3 points per game, 3.8 steals per game, Second-Team All-Southland Conference

Jamal Gibson, F, Fr., SUNO, New Orleans, Louisiana
21 points per game, 15.8 rebounds per game, Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year

DJ Richards, F, So., McNeese, Houston, Texas
11.4 points per game, 45.1 3-point shooting percentage, Southland Conference All-Tournament Team

TJ Jones, G, 5Y, Xavier, Opelousas, Louisiana
14.0 points per game, 4.8 assists per game, First-Team All-Red River Athletic Conference

Seth Thomas, F, Sr., Centenary, Kilgore, Texas
16.2 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Honorable Mention (Appeared on at least 25 percent of ballots)

CJ Carpenter, G, Sr., LSU-Shreveport, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Joe Charles, F, Jr., UL Lafayette, Carencro, Louisiana
Traā€™Michael Moton, G, Gr., Grambling, Shreveport, Louisiana

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LSU basketball’s Jalen Reed to return for 3rd season

Jalen Reed is coming back for what could be a breakout season in 2024-25.

LSU has already landed a couple of intriguing players in the transfer portal heading into the third season under coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag], and it also got some good news from a player who is already on the team Sunday.

Sophomore forward [autotag]Jalen Reed[/autotag] announced that he will return to LSU for his third season in 2024-25 rather than enter the transfer portal or the 2024 NBA draft. Reed announced his intention to return with a hype video posted on social media.

A former four-star and top-100 recruit, McMahon flipped Reed from Florida shortly after arriving in Baton Rouge. After appearing in 33 games with 11 starts as a true freshman, he saw his role increase significantly this year.

He started 20 of 32 games, averaging 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds. He scored in double figures in 10 games after doing so just once last year, and he recorded a double-double ā€” the first of his college career ā€” in a loss to Syracuse.

Reed could be poised for a breakout season after showing flashes this winter. Getting him back in the fold for a third year is a huge win for McMahon and Co.

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LSU basketball lands UT-Martin point guard transfer Jordan Sears

Jordan Sears was a First Team All-OVC selection in each of his two seasons with the Skyhawks.

Once again, coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] has the makings of a promising transfer portal class heading into Year 3.

On Thursday, the Tigers landed their second transfer in the cycle as they received a commitment from former UT-Martin point guard [autotag]Jordan Sears[/autotag].

The Daytona Beach native began his career at Gardner-Webb before joining the Skyhawks in 2022-23. He has been a First Team All-OVC selection in each of the past two seasons.

Sears has played in 64 games with 62 starts over the last two seasons, averaging 21.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists this past season. This will be his fifth and final season of collegiate eligibility.

Sears becomes the second transfer commitment in the cycle, joining Kansas State guard [autotag]Cam Carter[/autotag]. LSU is coming off an improved season in Year 2, but expectations will be high as McMahon enters a crucial Year 3 with another revamped roster.

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Mike Chatman joins LSU men’s basketball as head strength coach

The Baton Rouge native spent the last five seasons at Stanford.

LSU men’s basketball coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] is adding to his staff heading into Year 3.

On Thursday, the Tigers announced the hiring of Baton Rouge native [autotag]Mike Chatman[/autotag] as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Tigers men’s basketball team. Chatman has spent the last five years as the sports performance coach for Stanford basketball.

He has also previously worked on staff at Southern, Michigan, Texas, Penn State, Southern Mississippi and Towson.

ā€œWe are excited to welcome Mike Chatman to LSU as our head strength and conditioning coach,ā€ McMahon said in a release. ā€œCoach Chatman is well-respected in the profession for his ability to develop players, lead and build teams, and impact winning. He has coached multiple NBA draft picks and will be instrumental in our player development program. We canā€™t wait for him to get started in Baton Rouge.ā€

The hire is still pending the approval of LSU’s Board of Supervisors.

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LSU guard Carlos Stewart enters the transfer portal

A highly anticipated transfer from Santa Clara, Stewart appeared in 13 games with nine starts before a knee injury ended his season.

LSU’s men’s basketball team has seen another departure via the transfer portal. After just one injury-limited season with the Tigers, [autotag]Carlos Stewart[/autotag] entered the transfer portal on Tuesday night.

Stewart arrived as a highly anticipated transfer last offseason following two years at Santa Clara, where he was a First Team All-WCC selection in 2023 following his first year as a full-time starter.

He began the year in a big role for the Tigers, starting nine of the 13 games he appeared in early in the season before a knee injury ended his campaign. He averaged 19.4 minutes, 4.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and an assist this season.

LSU has now seen two players enter the transfer portal as Stewart joins fellow guard [autotag]Mwani Wilkinson[/autotag]. The Tigers also have a commitment from one incoming transfer in former Kansas State guard [autotag]Cam Carter[/autotag].

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LSU guard Jalen Cook declares for 2024 NBA draft

Jalen Cook returned to LSU after two years at Tulane, but he was injured and later suspended down the stretch.

LSU and former Tulane guard [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] is entering the 2024 NBA draft, he told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein on Monday. Cook does have remaining eligibility and will have the opportunity to return to school after testing the draft waters, provided he hires an NCAA-approved agent.

Cook, a native of Walker, Louisiana, began his career at LSU before transferring to Tulane. After earning back-to-back First Team All-AAC honors with the Green Wave, he returned to Baton Rouge this season.

He was initially expected to sit out the 2023-24 season as a two-time transfer, but he received eligibility from the NCAA in mid-December.

Cook appeared in 13 games, making nine starts while averaging 15.6 points and 2.8 assists. However, he battled a leg injury down the stretch and was later suspended by coach Matt McMahon for reasons that were never disclosed.

If Cook opts to return to college basketball for a fifth and final season, it’s unclear if he will return to LSU or re-enter the transfer portal for a third time.

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4-star guard Vyctorius Miller commits to LSU men’s basketball

LSU has added its third commitment in the 2025 cycle.

The LSU men’s basketball team took some significant strides in Year 2 under coach Matt McMahon, but it will be expected to take another step next season.

The Tigers are off to a good start in terms of roster construction for 2024-25, and they landed another four-star commitment in the 2024 class in Vyctorius Miller.

The four-star shooting guard hails from Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, and ranks as the No. 53 player nationally according to both 247Sports’ and On3’s national rankings. LSU had a Crystal Ball projection to land Miller, but On3 had Oregon as the favorite for the blue-chip prospect, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 170 pounds.

With Miller’s addition, LSU’s class now ranks 29th nationally and features three four-star recruits as forward [autotag]Robert Miller[/autotag] and point guard [autotag]Curtis Givens III[/autotag] have already signed.

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LSU among the final 4 for Appalachian State basketball transfer Tre’Von Spillers

Tre’Von Spillers earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors in his lone season with the Mountaineers.

The Tigers took some noticeable strides in Year 2 under [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag]. They finished with a winning record and improved their SEC win total from two games to nine this year, earning a bid to the NIT in the process.

But the team still wasn’t in the tournament mix, and after two transfer-heavy offseasons in Baton Rouge, McMahon is likely to hit the portal hard once again this time around.

LSU is already making progress in that regard. Over the weekend, it cracked the final four for Appalachian State basketball transfer [autotag]Tre’Von Spillers[/autotag], alongside conference foe Arkansas as well as Wake Forest and UAB.

A Charleston, South Carolina, native, Spillers joined the Mountaineers this season as a JUCO transfer and played a major role. He averaged 12.8 points and 8.9 rebounds while earning First Team All-Sun Belt honors.

The 6-foot-7 forward would be a nice wing addition for the Tigers, who have already landed a backcourt transfer in Kansas State guard [autotag]Cam Carter[/autotag].

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LSU men’s basketball lands first transfer portal commitment from Kansas State’s Cam Carter

The Tigers have landed their first commitment from the transfer portal this offseason.

After the conclusion of Year 2 under coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag], which saw the Tigers’ season end in the first round of the NIT against North Texas, LSU has landed its first men’s basketball transfer portal commitment of the cycle.

On Friday, Kansas State guard [autotag]Cam Carter[/autotag] announced his commitment to the Tigers, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. Carter finished his high school career in Virginia, but he’s a native of Donaldsonvile, Louisiana.

He’ll be making his return to the SEC after spending one year at Mississippi State before he spent the last two years in Manhattan, Kansas, with the Wildcats.

Carter was a rotational player with the Bulldogs but started all 70 games he appeared in at Kansas State. He averaged 14.6 points, five rebounds and 2.5 assists this season.

It’s a major pickup for the Tigers, which are set to lose both [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] and [autotag]Trae Hannibal[/autotag] as well as possibly [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] from the backcourt.

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LSU makes top 7 for 4-star power forward

Syracuse is a 14.6% favorite to land Sadiq White per On3.

LSU’s basketball season may have just ended, but the recruiting cycle is still heating up. [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] improved the Tigers team from Year 1 to Year 2 under his leadership and he is continuing to try to land the best players in the country.

This time, he has the Tigers in the final seven for the No. 1 player in the state of North Carolina. [autotag]Sadiq White[/autotag] is a four-star power forward from Charlotte where he plays for Myers Park High School. The Myers Park Mustangs finished the 2023-24 season with a 27-3 record and a loss to North Mecklenburg in the Class 4A Elite 8.

LSU joins Alabama, Arkansas, Syracuse, Georgetown, TexasĀ and Tennessee in the final seven. There are currently no crystal ball projections for White at this time but Syracuse is a 14.6% favorite to land him per On3.

LSU does not have any commits for the 2025 recruiting class in basketball yet.

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