Top 2025 guard ZaKiyah Johnson commits to LSU

No. 4-ranked 2025 recruit ZaKiyah Johnson has committed to the LSU Tigers, she announced on Sunday. 

The 6-foot shooting guard from Shelbyville (Kentucky) Sacred Heart Academy chose the Tigers over in-state programs Louisville and Kentucky. 

“I’m definitely really close with all the staff there,” Johnson told On3 in a previous interview. “They’re really energetic and I like that. I’m an energetic person too – I’m very social – so I think we click there. The fact that we can have long conversations is good for me.”

LSU is getting a versatile guard whose goal is to improve her leadership qualities on and off the court. 

“I’m versatile,” Johnson said of her game. “Whether it’s playing or being a leader, I can lead in different ways – whether it’s vocal or on the court itself. On the court, I can be anywhere I need to be, but being more vocal is something I’ve really worked on… I kind of just let my game talk for me, but now that I have these younger girls, just speaking up and making sure they understand how they should. I really think it’ll help me when I go to the next level.”

The most important qualities in Johnson’s decision were diversity, relationships and NIL. 

“I’m looking for diversity on a campus, just so I can branch out and meet new people,” Johnson told On3. “I also really pay attention to dorms and dorm living. Then it’s just looking at the team, kind of reading them and seeing how their relationships are. Are they close or is it kind of fake? I look for little things. The majority of [these schools] are in the city area, so that’s really what I like. NIL also plays a big part in it.” 

Johnson joins an LSU class of two other top 2025 recruits including Divine Bourrage and Bella Hines. The Tigers are still heavily recruiting top recruit Grace Knox, as well.