5-star in-state recruit ZaKiyah Johnson commits to LSU

ZaKiyah Johnson will play her college basketball outside of the Bluegrass. The five-star guard and homegrown recruit committed to LSU on Sunday afternoon over Kentucky and Louisville. Johnson, who attends Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, is considered the No. 4 overall prospect from the 2025 class by On3.

Johnson announced her decision on the SC Next Instagram Live. Despite taking official visits to Kentucky and Louisville in recent weeks, it was a trip to see LSU head coach Kim Mulkey in early September that ultimately sealed the deal. Johnson joins a 2025 class that already includes four-star guards Divine Bourrage and Bella Hines. During her announcement, she mentioned a desire to go out of the state for her college career.

Kentucky has yet to land a commitment from the 2025 cycle while Louisville has one commit locked in, 6-foot-5 Danville Christian Academy (KY) forward Grace Mbugua.

BREAKING: ZaKiyah Johnson has committed to LSU.

The 5-star and 3x Kentucky Gatorade player of the year out of @sha_sports takes the Tigers over Louisville and Kentucky.#GeauxTigers x #KHSAA @WHAS11 pic.twitter.com/4HxKy9q7TZ

— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) November 3, 2024

Johnson’s recruitment with UK dates back to the Kyra Elzy as head coach era. However, Kentucky appeared to be falling off the list of contenders until new head coach Kenny Brooks stepped in and put the program back into the mix. Johnson took several visits to Lexington over the years, including two trips over the last couple of months. She was among the many visitors in town for Big Blue Madness in October.

However, her longstanding relationship with the staff at LSU (plus a sizable NIL package) and willingness to go out of the Bluegrass trumped her connection to both in-state schools.

Once Johnson’s high school career is all wrapped up, she’ll go down as one of the most decorated high school athletes to ever play basketball in the Bluegrass. She’ll look to lead Sacred Heart to a fourth straight state championship as a senior in 2024-25. She has three Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year awards under her belt and an Olympic gold medal, which she earned over the summer. Johnson averaged 18.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per outing as a junior.