LSU MBB's 2024-25 roster: Does McMahon have a tourney team?

For the second straight season, LSU is working at a disadvantage from the rest of the SEC, operating with just 12 scholarships after the self-imposed scholarship suspension after the Will Wade situation in 2022. With that being said, LSU has now reached that 12-player limit with the addition of Dji Bailey on Wednesday afternoon, a transfer from Richmond, and now we can take a big-picture look at the roster and begin to set expectations for this LSU roster.

For Matt McMahon, this will be his third year in Baton Rouge, coming off of a 9-9 season in year two, a great conference run, albeit a disappointing ending in the first round of the NIT. Still, LSU returns several contributors from last years team and now looks to reload and make an even bigger splash in 2024-25. Here’s a look at the roster the next season and where I’m setting expectations.

Returners

F Jalen Reed: A versatile forward who averaged 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds last year, while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three, Reed promises to have a significant role on LSU’s squad next year. At a strong 6-foot-10, he can play both the 4 or the 5 positions comfortably.

G Tyrell Ward: One of the best 3-point shooters in the SEC last year, ending conference play at 45.8 percent from deep with 10.4 points per game in just 22 minutes per contest, Ward will have an even greater role on the offense this year. The Baltimore native returned for his third year at LSU along with Reed and is set to fill it up this year.

G Mike Williams: It was an awesome freshman season from Mike Williams, starting 22 of 32 games and averaging 7.2 points and 1.2 steals in just 19.5 minutes per game. Williams proved himself as an elite perimeter defender and shot 37.1 percent from deep, rounding out his game and showing the potential for years to come.

F Derek Fountain: Fountain enters his third year with LSU and fifth year overall and he’s a very defined role player for the Tigers. He may have to play more center this year with the Tigers’ lack of a true five, but his experience is incredibly valuable as he’s completely bought into what Matt McMahon has built so far.

F Daimion Collins: The biggest X-Factor for LSU this year, Collins first will have to stay healthy after suffering a shoulder injury that held him out of the majority of the season. Secondly, he’s going to have to play big with his incredible vertical leaping and great athletic tools. He’s got good touch around the paint and will need to be a quality player for LSU’s frontcourt this year.

F Corey Chest: Chest redshirted last year as a freshman and from everything we heard from speaking with the coaching staff, he was able to grow his game and prepare himself physically in practice every day going against Will Baker, Hunter Dean, Jalen Reed, and Derek Fountain. Chest is a high-motor player who should be a massive boost on defense and on the glass off the bench.

Transfer additions

PG Jordan Sears: One of the top 10 scorers in the country last year, Sears is a high-volume scorer at 5-foot-11 who shot 43 percent from 3-point range, but also is relentless attacking the basket. LSU will play through him a ton in the halfcourt and rely on him being efficient in ball screens and being unselfish in tight games. The jump to the SEC will be a challenge, but he has enough talent and experience to thrive.

G Cam Carter: A stingy two-way guard, Carter is not a high-level shooter, but is excellent off the bounce and has the ability to make open threes and playmaker for his teammates. He avered 14.6 points, 5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals as a full time starter at Kansas State last year and returns back home for his senior year.

G Dji Bailey: A 6-foot-5 guard out of Richmond who was the A10 Most Improved Player, Bailey averaged 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 59.4 percent from the field. He’s a relentless player on both ends of the court and has a knack for finishing at the rim through contact. He’ll certainly make his way into the guard and wing rotation for LSU this year.

Freshmen

PG Curtis Givens: A four-star point guard who had a reduced role at Montverde Academy this past year, but showed terrific playmaking, pace, and shooting alongside several high-major prospects. I believe the hope for Givens is to back up Sears at the point guard position. At 6-foot-3, Givens physically should be ready to contribute in year one in some capacity.

G Vyctorious Miller: Miller is an awesome scorer who also played on one of the top high school teams in the country. His scoring brings an exciting potential to LSU’s roster, but we’ll see if he’s physically strong enough to hold up on the defensive end, especially once this team gets into conference play where it’s extremely physical with seasoned guards.

F Robert Miller: I was impressed with Robert Miller as a prospect and love his potential in this program. He scored the ball with ease in AAU and has a great natural feel for the game. On defense, when he was engaged, he was terrific with long arms and quick twitch as a rim protector. I’m not sure how he fits into this forward rotation, but he certainly is talented enough to contribute year one.

Will LSU push for a 13th player?

Although LSU is at its scholarship limit with 12 players, there’s still a hope that the staff can add a player as a walk-on, similar to Hunter Dean who joined late and had an impactful senior season. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of situations where players are willing to walk-on, especially if they’re not going to be consistent pieces in the rotation. 

LSU has a really solid group of 12 players right now. If it had a 13th scholarship, I assume the center position would be top priority, but it’s a luxury LSU likely won’t be able to afford considering the situation. I feel good about the five forwards the Tigers have on hand and the size they present.

Hunter Dean was the best case scenario, and even then, he outperformed expectations, so it’s unlikely LSU gets a contributor from its walk-on spot, but we’ll see if they weigh their options.

Overall thoughts on LSU’s roster

With these 12 players, it’s immediately the most talented roster Matt McMahon has had at LSU. Simply adding Sears to run the point and having Reed and Ward with another year of development immediately raises this team’s top-end talent to compete with most teams in the conference. Carter, Bailey, and Williams are a really nice rotation of guards to work in and all provide different strengths. 

The frontcourt certainly has the offensive upside McMahon looks for with Reed, Collins, Fountain, and Robert Miller, now it will be about defense and rebounding from this unit. The Tigers are a bit thin on the wing with Bailey, Victorious Miller, and Ward as the only three players between 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-8 on the roster, but I expect Ward to play substantial minutes to alleviate that concern and he can play alongside Bailey well.

It’s hard for me to say exactly where this roster stacks up in the SEC at the moment with other teams still adding their final pieces, but I think setting the floor at 9-9 again feels fair. The non-conference carries a ton of significance this season, though, as a strong showing in November and December gives this team margin for error in conference play. Last year, the losses to Nicholls, Kansas State, Syracuse, and others, essentially ended LSU’s hope to make the NCAA Tournament in the first two months. Now, we wait for the schedule to be released and wait to see if the Tigers can add a 13th player to the roster, but for now, it has the makings of an NCAA Tournament team in Matt McMahon’s third season.