Matt McMahon evaluates LSU MBB's 2024-25 roster

LSU had its first official practice on Wednesday evening in the PMAC, beginning year three under Matt McMahon in the purple and gold. Coming off of a season going .500 in SEC play, the hope now becomes to take this program to another level, getting back to the NCAA Tournament.

Before LSU’s practice, McMahon met with the media to discuss his team’s goals and his player’s development entering the season. Here’s his breakdown of each scholarship player on LSU’s roster.

PG Jordan Sears

“He’s kind of built like the Honey Badger. He’s quick, he’s athletic, and he’s incredibly strong. I really have been impressed so far with his mentality. He’s the only player in the country last year, 650 points, 140 rebounds, 140 assists, 75 threes, and now he’s making the jump into the SEC. And he understands what comes with that. The work ethic is impressive. I tell him all the time, he didn’t come here to spend his last eight months of college basketball to learn how to shoot or to learn how to pass. He came here to develop his mindset as an elite point guard and that’s where will continue to challenge him every day.”

SG/SF Tyrell Ward

“I think you put in the work in the spring and summer putting on weight. He was a little thin in this league. He is 6’7” on the wing and has gotten up to around 200 pounds. In league play, I believe he finished third in the SEC and three point shooting and in double figures last year, So it’s a big two months for him coming up. These 42 days going into the season opener, he has to continue his development as a player, not just as a catch and shoot three point shooter, but finishing plays in transition. He knows he needs to take big steps on the defensive side of the ball as well.”

F Jalen Reed

“I think Jalen Reed’s done a great job. He’s certainly not a center by any means. but at 252 pounds, 6’10”. He’s been very physical around the basket.”

G Mike Williams

“It was a big offseason for him. He shot the ball exceptionally well from three last year. He brought great toughness and competitiveness to our team. He had to grow up faster than he probably intended, going from the two guard position to the point guard position last November out of necessity. You saw once we got into the league play and he was able to settle in, he finished 38% for three and was right there on the edge of making the all freshman team in the SEC.”

C Daimion Collins

“He had a great off season coming off the shoulder surgery that ended his season. He’s been fully cleared now since the middle of August and I’m really pleased with his progression. I think he’s got a great mindset going into the season. He’s a once in a lifetime athlete, I’ll never coach anyone else like him. So I wanna see him really take advantage of his athleticism and his skill level to have a breakout season for us.”

F Corey Chest

“Corey has a unique ability to rebound the basketball. I don’t really know how to coach it or teach it to do it at the level he does. It’s just a natural way he plays the game, so I thought he really took advantage of the summer, gaining 20 pounds in the weight room. He’s been incredibly productive in our workouts, especially on the glass. I love his versatility defensively. He’s a guy who can guard one through five on the floor and I expect big things from him. He’s not a guy that’s shooting threes, but he just at the end of the day, but you grab the stat sheet and he’s been very productive and he impacts winning, which is the most important thing. He has one of the highest winning percentages on the team over the summer.”

G Cam Carter

“Cam Carter was an elite defender on the top 20 defense at Kansas State.”

G Dji Bailey

“Dji Bailey was the top defender in the Atlantic 10 on the championship team there at Richmond.”

G Vyctorious Miller

“Vyctorious Miller is another very talented guard with good size at 6’5”. I think he has great IQ and feel for the game. He can score in a variety of different ways and then he’s also a very good playmaker. He’s been one of our top players in assist to turnover ratio in the workouts this fall.”

F Robert Miller

Rob Miller is almost 6’11 with a huge wingspan. He’s done a terrific job with Coach Chapman in the weight rooms and has gained about 20 pounds, he’s up around 228, 229 now. He’s really talented. He’s not a back to the basket, old school post player. He’s very skilled, he shoots it well from three. He is gonna be a really good player.” 

PG Curtis Givens

“Curtis Givens has  been everything we were expecting at the point guard position. He’s just rock solid consistency. He’s a relentless worker and he’s shooting the ball exceptionally well from three.”

Other LSU player notes

*** McMahon mentioned forward Derek Fountain as one of the frontcourt options he has at center this year as they look to be more versatile. As a fifth-year senior, Fountain projects as one of the key forwards in LSU’s rotation.

*** JUCO transfer Noah Boyde is out for another month after his ACL surgery in December.