LSU’s first year basketball coach, Will Wade, inherited a mess. After Johnny Jones inherited the team, he eventually landed #1 prospect, Ben Simmons, who went on to be the #1 draft pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, and another top talent in Antonio Blakeney. Simmons showed up for games but under-performed to fans expectations for most of the season. These recruits in his second to last year was his undoing. Johnny Jones, as great of a guy he may have been, never did anything with the program. He made one March Madness appearance, not with Simmons and Blakeney might I add. His last season that led to his firing he went 10–21 and was subsequently fired.
Will Wade Bringing Excitement Back to LSU Basketball
It’s Not the Record We Should Be Excited About – It’s the Energy
Enter VCU’s Will Wade. In his first press conference, Wade had an energy that captivated not only me, but all of LSU’s basketball fans. He believes, rightfully so, that there is talent in state and that LSU has been missing the boat on the recruiting it. LSU fans especially loved this because it echoed Ed Orgeron’s “Louisiana First” recruiting theology and everyone is on board with Coach O.
Here’s to the Future!
Wade has not only talked the talk, he has backed it up. Locking up in state four-star recruit Ja’Vonte Smart for the 2018 class, he’s pieced together a pretty impressive roster for next season. There are 4 signed letters of intent, giving LSU a national recruiting class rank of 6. Tremont Waters is a stellar point guard that has out of this world ball handling. Then you have Brandon Rachal, Galen Alexander from Louisiana. Add that with Mayan Kiir, Daryl Edwards being taken from Florida, and you have a solid class.
Wade and the Tigers have also landed some key transfers for the 2017–18 season.Randy Onwuasor is transferring over from Southern Utah and Oregon transfer Kavell Bigby-Williams. These guys add much needed leadership through expierence to the Tiger’s roster. Onwuasor will be eligible this year and Bigby-Williams will be eligible the following season.
And the 2018 gets much better than only Smart. Naz Reid chose LSU over Arizona. Zion Williamson, another five star, and several other top tier talents are also mulling over LSU’s new program.
Not to mention all of Will Wade’s on campus fun, he fits in right and snugly with the Tiger family. His SEC debut is against Kentucky and John Calapari, and Tiger fans look forward to what we all hope to be a long and successful career for Wade at LSU.
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