LSU Basketball Signs Trio Of Four-Stars In The 2026 Class

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Herly Brutus - Small Forward (6-5, 180)
The Villages, FL (The Villages Charter)

Brutus, a four-star recruit, was part of the 2024 NIKE Elite 100 and participated in the PRO16 League as well as the Jay Bilas Skills Camp.

He is ranked at No. 82 on the ESPN college basketball rankings.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the addition of Herly Brutus to the LSU Family,” said LSU Coach Matt McMahon. “Herly is a big, physical wing with a seven-foot plus wing span. He will make an impact on both ends of the court, but I was especially impressed with his defensive instincts and competitiveness. His combination of length, athleticism, and a high motor will be exciting for our fans to watch in Baton Rouge.”

His Villages High School team is ranked No. 14 by MaxPreps, as Brutus helped the team to the state finals a year ago. He was named Class 3A All-State Tournament after averaging 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds a contest.

In the PRO16 League for Tre Mann Elite, he averaged 15.5 points, seven rebounds, two assists and shot 48.6 percent from the floor.

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Marcus Vaughns - Forward (6-8, 215)
Melbourne, Australia (Centre of Excellence)

Vaughns, who was part of the NBA Global Academy and took part in Basketball Without Borders during the NBA All-Star Weekend, plays for the Centre of Excellence in Australia. The NBA Global Academy provides development for top high school-age players outside the U.S. through a holistic approach that includes basketball skills, education, and life skills.

“We are excited to welcome Marcus Vaughns to Louisiana State University,” said Coach McMahon. “Marcus is an incredibly humble talent from Australia who will bring versatility to our program. He is skilled and smart with the ability to play multiple positions. His international experience will benefit him as he makes the transition to college. I love his spirit and appreciation for the opportunity to come to Louisiana and represent the Tigers.”

Vaughns, who participated in the G-League Showcase in 2024 and was named the MVP of the 2024 NIKE All-Asian camp, is the son of Brian Vaughns, who was a fifth-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1987 NBA Draft. He also played for years in Australia’s National Basketball League and in Europe for several seasons. Brian played his college basketball at UC Santa Barbara and married Marcus’ mom, Julie, who is a native Australian.

In the early part of the NBL1 East Men’s Conference for the COE, Marcus Vaughns is averaging 8.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals.

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Kevin Thomas - Forward (6-6, 195)
Coral Spring, FL (Montverde Academy)

Thomas, a 6-7 forward with nearly a 6-10 wingspan, is ranked No. 56 by the ESPN.com recruiting board and No. 71 nationally by 247Sports.com. ESPN.com also ranks him No. 23 nationally at the small forward position.

He is currently part of the 2025–26 Montverde team that was ranked preseason No. 5 in the national high school poll by MaxPreps.

Last season, he played at Sagemont Prep in Weston, Florida and averaged 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.3 steals as the school won the Florida Class 1A state title.

“Kevin Thomas is an athletic 6-7 wing who will bring perimeter scoring and explosiveness to our program,” said LSU Coach Matt McMahon. “Like our other signees, Kevin has great size and the versatility to defend multiple positions on the court. His ability to shoot the three and attack the basket off the bounce will fit in well with our offensive system. We look forward to his arrival in Baton Rouge next summer.”

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