Now that’s what I’m talking
The powers that be who run the LSU men’s basketball might actually be putting their money where their mouth is.
After promising to be being more active in NIL, the men’s basketball program is reportedly adding two transfers, one of whom is one of the top players in the portal.
The Tigers added two players out of the portal on Monday: center Michael Nwoko, formerly of Mississippi State, and point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. who spent this season with UNLV.
Thomas is the eye-catching addition. A rising junior, Thomas was viewed as the No. 8 overall player in the portal and the No. 3 point guard prior to committing to LSU. Even better for LSU is he picked them over Kentucky and Florida.
Thomas averaged 14.5 points on 43 percent shooting and is a pretty reliable three-point shooter. He shot just a tick under 36 percent from three (35.8) during his first two years in college. He led UNLV in points and assists in each of his two seasons in Vegas.
Thomas shared Co-Freshman of the Year honors and was a two-time All-Mountain West selection. He was a high-four star prospect coming out of high school, finishing as the No. 35 player in his class.
LSU’s also bolstering its front court by adding Nwoko who’s transferring within the conference. Nwoko began his college career at Miami, before spending this season in Starkville. He started 32 games for the Bulldogs this season and averaged six points and four boards. Listed at 6’10”, Nwoko will slide next to Jalen Reed and give the Tigers some much-needed size and physicality up front.