Tag: LSU Men’s Basketball

LSU men’s basketball announced as part of inaugural Greenbriar Tip-Off field in 2024

The Tigers are heading to the mountains of West Virginia for an early season tournament.

The LSU men’s basketball team is taking a trip to West Virginia, in November to take part in the inaugural Greenbriar Tip-Off, as was announced on Wednesday.

The Tigers will join Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and UCF in the field as part of the mountain division, where they will play in a two-game bracketed tournament on Nov. 22 and 24. The event will take place at the Greenbriar Resort, which is in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Fans interested in attending the tip-off tournament can purchase travel packages beginning on May 21. Those packages include tickets to the game as well as accommodations at the resort.

LSU previously participated in the Cayman Islands Classic and Charleston Classic in the first two seasons under [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag], winning two games in each.

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Former LSU basketball player Naz Reid finding spotlight in NBA playoffs

Naz Reid has helped the Timberwolves jump out to a 2-0 lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals

Five years after leaving LSU, former Tigers’ basketball star [autotag]Naz Reid[/autotag] is playing a pivotal role in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA playoff run.

The Timberwolves jumped out to a 2-0 series lead over the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals. Reid hit double-digits in both games, scoring 16 in game one and following up with 14 more in game two.

Most of that production came from behind the three-point line. Reid is six of 12 from deep to start the series.

But perhaps his biggest impact has been on defense. The Nuggets shot 0-11 from the field when guarded by Reid in game two with Reid recording four blocks. Adding to his block total, Reid’s come up with two steals this series too.

Reid proved to be an impact player the moment he joined the league. After spending one year at LSU, he averaged 9.0 points per game as a rookie before upping that total to 11.2 in his second year.

He posted a career-high this season with 13.5 points per game while shooting 41.4% from behind the arch.

LSU’s Sweet 16 team from 2019 was one of the most talented teams in program history, but so far, Reid is the only one to go on and find sustained NBA success.

Reid will take the floor again when the Timberwolves head to Denver to continue the series with game three on Friday night. You can catch the action on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. CT.

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4-star guard Vyctorius Miller signs with LSU men’s basketball

The Tigers made things official with their third and final 2024 commit on Thursday.

The LSU men’s basketball team and coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] signed their third high school commit of the 2024 cycle on Thursday.

Four-star Los Angeles guard [autotag]Vyctorius Miller[/autotag] made things official, signing a national letter of intent with the Tigers. He was the third and final high school commit in the 2024 class to sign with LSU, joining forward [autotag]Robert Miller[/autotag] and guard [autotag]Curtis Givens III[/autotag].

All three players rank in the top 100 nationally.

Miller is the highest-rated of the group. He ranks 56th nationally, per the 247Sports Composite, and he ranks as the No. 10 shooting guard in the 2024 cycle. Miller began his high school career in Chandler, Arizona, before moving to Southern California.

LSU’s recruiting class currently ranks 13th overall, per 247Sports, and it ranks 16th nationally when you include the three transfer additions so far.

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LSU men’s basketball lands Richmond guard transfer Dji Bailey

The Tigers landed their third transfer portal commitment on Wednesday.

The LSU men’s basketball team continues to add to its transfer portal class entering Year 3 under coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag].

On Wednesday, the Tigers landed a commitment from Richmond guard transfer [autotag]Dji Bailey[/autotag], a 6-foot-5 senior from Wilson, North Carolina. Bailey has appeared in 71 games with 31 starts, 24 of which came this past season.

He was named the A-10 Most Improved Player in 2023-24 while averaging 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He also tallied career highs in points (22) against La Salle and steals (six) against Florida.

Bailey’s career field goal percentage of 56.4% also ranks fourth all-time in Spiders basketball history among players who attempted at least 300 field goals.

Bailey is the third transfer to join the Tigers this offseason, a group that is all guards so far and includes Kansas State’s [autotag]Cam Carter[/autotag] and UT-Martin’s [autotag]Jordan Sears[/autotag].

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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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