Report: Ronald Dupree retuning to LSU as GM of men's basketball program

The LSU Tigers are looking towards their past to help cultivate the future of their men’s basketball program. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Ronald Dupree is returning to the school to become the team’s general manager.

“Bucks executive and former six-year NBA forward Ronald Dupree is returning to alma mater LSU as the general manager of the men’s basketball program, sources tell ESPN,” Charania posted on X. “Dupree spent eight years with Bucks front office, and now becomes among few ex-standout players as school GM.”

Dupree spent 1999–2003 with LSU. During his time with the Tigers, the forward was named to the All-SEC Second Team three times. He actually led the SEC in scoring at 17.3 points per game during his sophomore season. As you can tell, Dupree endeared himself to the fanbase during his time in Baton Rouge.

While he went undrafted during the 2003 NBA Draft, Dupree broke into the league. Over the course of his professional basketball career that spanned over a decade, the Biloxi, Mississippi native played for a number of teams and in a variety of different leagues. Eventually, he returned to LSU as a student assistant in 2014.

After holding a myriad of different coaching positions, Dupree took his talents to the NBA once again, joining the aforementioned Bucks as a scout in 2017. He worked his way up into an executive role over the past decade, but now he’s returning to the Tigers once again. As the team’s general manager, he can perhaps make his greatest impact yet, and usher in a new standard for LSU in the future.

More on the LSU Tigers Men’s Basketball Program

Meanwhile, LSU has landed a commitment from Marquel Sutton via the NCAA transfer portal, kickstarting their offseason. Sutton just wrapped up his fourth season of college basketball as he heads toward the end of his eligibility. Baton Rouge will be the final destination, opting to play for the Tigers.

Sutton just wrapped up a career year at Omaha, one where the program made the NCAA Touranment. He averaged 18.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. The free throw percentage was good for a big man too, making 73.9% of attempts from the charity stripe.

Omaha went on to earn a two-seed on Selection Sunday, matching up against St. John’s. Sutton was in double figures with 11 points and four rebounds in what turned into a losing effort for the Mavericks.

The On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings had Sutton as one of the top names out there. He was the No. 66 overall player to enter this cycle. Looking at just power forwards, Sutton was inside the top 20 at the position at No. 18.

Head coach Matt McMahon picks up a nice piece in Sutton. LSU continues to make a big push in the transfer portal, hoping for an improved 2025-2026 season.

— On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this article.