re: LSU basketball transfer portal watch

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That’s funny because the conversation had nothing to do with WW until JWill409 chimed in trying to trash Wade’s recruiting. My comments were strictly about McMahon’s recruiting until then.

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Your comments were strictly dismissive of CMM. You said all he has done is bring in guys with local ties which isn't even true.

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Actually complimented the guards he picked up. Guess you missed that part.

I do have concerns about the inability to land big names in the portal. Any rational fan should.

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Baker is a solid "name" player and we are still dealing with an NOA that hopefully will be resolved this Summer.

Every player has been an upgrade, which is what you need to see. We aren't going to sign a bunch of 5 stars and win the SEC in year 2.

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That’s funny because the conversation had nothing to do with WW until JWill409 chimed in trying to trash Wade’s recruiting. My comments were strictly about McMahon’s recruiting until then.
Your comments were strictly dismissive of CMM. You said all he has done is bring in guys with local ties which isn't even true.

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Also, the 2 freshmen in next year's class are not from the Louisiana. Chest is from Missouri and Williams is from Maryland. Ward is from Maryland, Reed from California, and Phillips from Arizona, so while his transfers have focused on Louisiana talent that has flourished elsewhere, with the exception of Baker, his high school recruiting has been national. Someone else pointed out that that is a similar approach to Kelly. A lot of kids want to leave home to sow their oats, and then want to come home, and McMahan is using that. Of course that same tactic can be used against us to lure the out of state kids back home. We have to make LSU feel like home to hold more than we lose.

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Baker is a solid "name" player and we are still dealing with an NOA that hopefully will be resolved this Summer

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Our inability to get big names in the portal has very little to do with the NOA, and has far more to do with NIL money.

ETA. It is funny that the NOA is a valid excuse to some for MM’s recruiting and on court success, but yet it’s not a good reason for Wade being at McNeese and not a bigger school.

Let me let you in on a little secret, school admins are far more concerned about the NOA pending than recruits are. Recruits are far more interested in how much money they are going to make (as they should be in a free market system).

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Also, the 2 freshmen in next year's class are not from the Louisiana. Chest is from Missouri and Williams is from Maryland. Ward is from Maryland, Reed from California, and Phillips from Arizona, so while his transfers have focused on Louisiana talent that has flourished elsewhere, with the exception of Baker, his high school recruiting has been national. Someone else pointed out that that is a similar approach to Kelly. A lot of kids want to leave home to sow their oats, and then want to come home, and McMahan is using that. Of course that same tactic can be used against us to lure the out of state kids back home. We have to make LSU feel like home to hold more than we lose.

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Just for a bit of clarification, Chest is from New Orleans. Reed is from Jackson, MS. Phillips is from Dayton, OH. The connection with Reed is current LSU assistant coach and former Ole Miss AC, Ronnie Hamilton. (Same for Amaree Abram from Ole Miss who is in the portal) Reed's late father, Justin, was a great player at Ole Miss. Ward is someone Wade was recruiting hard to LSU prior to being fired.

McMahon didn't do a bad job recruiting last year. It was during the season where he wasn't good. That put LSU behind the eight ball in recruiting because he had to defend last year's results.

LSU simply wasn't a big draw to transfers/recruits this spring. So McMahon has had to use the very few positives he has to lure guys in. The first is "home". That's why you've seen three BR area players signed. Those guys didn't leave to "sow their oats". (Other than Cook) they weren't strongly recruited by the prior staff because that staff was brining in higher ranked talent. Fortunately, those guys had success elsewhere and are eager to return home.

With Baker, the pitch was easy. LSU's LONE bright spot this past season was the play of KJ Williams. Baker's game is a lot like KJ's. McMahon could sell Baker on trying to make him an All-SEC player.

Credit to McMahon (thus far) for using the angles he could to turn chicken shite into chicken salad. But he MUST produce results with it this season. Otherwise, even the Louisiana kids are going to begin shying away from LSU.

Agree on all points. I don’t know if he’s doing this or not but he really needs to get his NIL pool strengthened. I know there are some big money basketball guys out there. I’m sure Shaq could pitch in, maybe Engquist. Bill Whittle used to have basketball ties, and there are several former/ current NBA guys.
NIL opportunities is really all that matters to most, when just need to increase the size of the pot

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Wrap up Girard and either pull Phillips back or grab tChewy and call it an off-season.

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It seems like the last guard spot is between Girard and Abram.

Girard has much more experience and is a proven scorer in a power conference. You instantly have a 3 point threat to join the other two guards (Cook and Stewart) The downside is he is only 6'0; (I think) only has one season of eligibility remaining, and isn't a great defender...which is even more of a concern when you consider he would be switching to man-defense vs. the Syracuse zone.

Abram is bigger, longer, and probably a bit more explosive. He has the potential to be a very good defender and can add some length to what right now is a small backcourt. He also has 3 years of eligibility remaining. The downside is he lacks Girard's experience and consistency as a scorer. Abram may have a higher upside, but he is still a work in progress unlike Girard who is more of a finished product.

Assuming both guys said they wanted to come to LSU and McMahon could only take one, I think I would go with Abram. Cook and Stewart can score. Maybe they won't be able to score at quite the same level at LSU, but they can still get it done. While we all like to talk about offense, LSU really, really needs defensive help as well. Abrams could likely provide that while not being relied upon to handle a big load offensively. Plus, he may be a bit more receptive to coming off the bench as only a second year player. A grad student (Girard), a 4th year guy (Cook) and third year player (Stewart) likely aren't interested in going somewhere they will have to come off the bench.

As for the post, I'd love to see them get Phillips to return. IMO, there is a lot to like as a defender and rebounder there. You can't teach 7'0" with 7'4" wingspans.

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I do have concerns about the inability to land big names in the portal. Any rational fan should.

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Currently sitting at #3 in the 24/7 Transfer Portal Rankings.

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