Signing Day Tracker: LSU Men's basketball closes on elite class
LSU men’s basketball has one of the top classes in the SEC and a top 15 class in the country for the second straight year, once again picking up a trio of commitments in the cycle who are all ranked in the top 75 in the country. This staff was able to evaluate, target, and recruit several of the top players in the nation and now ends the cycle with multiple quality players to show for it.
Here is our live tracker of the Early Signing Period as LSU expects all three to sign today so they can finalize this excellent class. We’ll be updating this signing day tracker as the players announce their signings and they become official. We’ll have breakdowns of each one of their games and quotes from them on their decision to commit to LSU.
Matthew Gilhool — SIGNED
11/13/2024 09:31:42 AM6-foot-10 forward from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Ranking — No. 73rd overall, No. 12 power forward
Skillset — A skilled forward who fits perfectly what Matt McMahon wants in his frontcourt. It’s not just the shooting ability, but the skill level to hit pull up jumpers and create for himself at that size. The offensive potential is through the roof and gives McMahon more versatility in the frontcourt as a pick and pop threat who provides spacing. He will have to work to round out the rest of his game, which he already knows. The physicality of the college level will be an adjustment early on, similar to how it was for LSU’s Jalen Reed, but McMahon is comfortable betting on a guy who has this level of skill out of high school.
Quote: “They always tell me to keep on doing my thing,” Gilhool said of LSU during his recruitment. “They’re big on me, and I hear from them just about every day. I talk with Coach (Matt) McMahon and he lets me know how much they like their forwards to be versatile and be able to play through them. I’m not SEC size yet, I have to put weight on, but that will come.”
Matt McMahon’s take — “Matt Gilhool is a highly skilled and versatile forward. He is an athletic finisher at the rim and can score with either hand in the post. Matt stretches the defense with his ability to shoot the three and space the court. He plays extremely hard and can really run the floor for his size. Matt will be very impactful in our rebounding and rim protection as he continues to get stronger.
Mazi Mosley — SIGNED
11/13/2024 01:12:08 PM6-foot-5 shooting guard from La Canada Flintridge, California
Ranking — No. 64 overall, No. 16 shooting guard
Skillset – Mosley is a fantastic shooting prospect who has the frame to put on weight and round out his game into being a lethal scorer. He has a smooth jumper with NBA range and can create for himself with pull-ups, step backs, and an array of moves off the bounce. He transferred to Montverde for his senior season of high school where we’ll get to see him face the top talent in the country and I expect the shooting and overall offensive creativity to excel. At 165 pounds, he needs to add weight and get stronger to hold up on defense in college, but he’s another player that has the skills ready to help a high major team right away.
Quote – “I chose LSU because I enjoyed the culture as well as the homelike feeling I received when I got there. I like how coach McMahon develops guards. I like how the coaching staff brings good energy every day.”
Matt McMahon’s take — “Mazi Mosley is an athletic guard with good size at 6-5. We love his 3-point shooting along with his ability to get in the paint off the dribble. He plays with great unselfishness and can make all of the reads as a passer. Mazi can play multiple positions on the perimeter and will excel in our system. We love the contagious energy and spirit he brings to our team.”
Jalen Reece — SIGNED
11/13/2024 06:09:51 PM6-foot point guard from Orlando, Florida
Ranking: No, 72 overall, No. 12 point guard
Skillset — A true point guard, Reece is going to be an awesome college player for a long time. The playmaking ability stood out immediately, but he’s also an excellent shooter, has a great floater game, and is one of the smartest players in this class with his feel for the game. He was one of the top assist leaders on the Nike EYBL Circuit with 62 assists to 26 turnovers. He has one of the tightest handles in the country, shot 41 percent from three over the summer, and excelled at every stop. His size is a challenge in some settings, but with his mindset on both ends and a clear understanding of his role and what he brings to a team, Reece is set to be an awesome college point guard for the foreseeable future.
Quote — “It was a cool visit,” Reece told On3’s Joe Tipton. “Just knowing that players like Antonio Blakeney and Ben Simmons went there, those are people I look up to. Knowing that its my turn to go and put the jersey on and just having the ability to go over there and play. (Antonio Blakeney) means a lot to me personally. That’s like my big brother. I remember last year he told me to always be the last one out of the gym. He’s given me a lot of tricks and tips and I work out with him in the summer. I love our relationship.”
MaMahon’s take — “Jalen Reece is a true floor general with excellent court vision and elite passing ability. Creative and smart, he makes plays for his teammates while also being a proven scorer. Jalen will bring consistent 3-point shooting to Baton Rouge, and he will flourish in our up-tempo ball screen attack. I love his competitiveness, toughness, and intelligence on both ends of the court. He has winning DNA that translates on the national stage.”
