Will Wade is once again making headlines with the LSU Tigers. However, this time around, it is all good news for the Tigers as Wade has been working hard on the recruiting front.
Victor Wembanyama’s Former Teammate Signs With LSU
According to Shea Dixon of The Bengal Tiger, Wade has signed 6-11 international prospect Brice Dessert.
BREAKING: Will Wade and LSU have signed SIG Strasbourg 6-foot-11 prospect Brice Dessert, sources tell me.
The 23-year-old averaged 8.7 points and 3.3 rebounds this season.
He was Victor Wembanyana’s teammate on multiple France teams.
More:➡️ https://t.co/IxzO3Z4Uuk pic.twitter.com/VtQueXR6bF
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) May 21, 2026
Dessert is LSU’s fourth international recruit in 2026. is a high-end, lengthy frontcourt player who is known for physicality, rim protection, and mobility. The 6-11 Frenchman excels in the pick-and-roll and is an excellent finisher at the rim. He sets strong, hard screens and runs the floor with fluidity.
Dessert, who has a 7-4 wingspan, played for Turkish club Anadolu Efes this season. The 23-year-old averaged 7.2 points on 76.1% shootign from the field, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 16 minutes over 40 appearances. Going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Dessert chose LSU over Kansas and Auburn.
Dessert has been playing professionally in Europe since 2019, starting in Belgrade, Serbia. Dessert, who played with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama on Multiple French national teams, moved to France as an 18-year-old. He has also played for Rouen Metropole Basket, ADA Blois Basket, and Strasbourg IG.
“I think he’s got more feel and craft than the statistical portrait may allude to,” CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein recently said. “You watch him play, I think he’s going to be able to play out of dribble hand-offs. I think again, someone who’s 23 years old who has sort of all this international experience, he’s played in advanced offensive systems.”
Dessert is expected to compete for a frontcourt spot with the Tigers this upcoming season. His main competition for a starting frontcourt spot figures to come from Marcio Santos, Mouhamed Dioubate, and Michael Ruzic. Dioubate transferred from Kentucky, while Santos and Ruzic are experienced, international players. Cleveland Cavaliers 2025 second-round draft pick Saliou Niang is the Tigers’ other international recruit.
“This year I’m going to lean a little heavier on the international route,” Wade recently told CBS Sports Jon Rothstein about his recruiting philosophy. “This will be the last year some of those guys will be eligible. So we’re going to lean a little heavier on the international route. Those kids have a lot of experience. There are just some natural things that they’ve learned over there that really help college basketball and can translate to us in college basketball.
What Is Next For LSU?
Overall, LSU has nine player commitments for 2026-27. RJ Luis Jr., who committed to the Tigers a few days ago, has his status up in the air, as he doesn’t currently have college eligibility. So, he will have to apply for a waiver, which the NCAA has consistently denied to players who have signed an NBA contract (standard or 2-way).
Whether Luis is granted eligibility or not, Wade still has work to do with his roster. While the Tigers’ frontcourt is pretty much set, Wade will need to add help in the backcourt and another wing.
Former Boston Celtics second-round draft pick Yader Madar is a possibility for the Tigers. Madar, who will turn 26 in December, was selected with the No. 47 pick in 2020 and has bounced around Europe. He was named EuroLeague Rising Star in 2023 and Eurocup Semifinals MVP in 2025. Madar may not be eligible for college basketball due to his age. However, Dixon said that mandatory service in the Israeli military is expected to give Madar a year of eligibility granted at the college level.
Santa Clara transfer Allen Graves, who is still deciding whether to remain in the 2026 draft, is a target for both LSU and Duke. Wade also has an open offer to 2026 high school prospect Elhadji Diallo (Charlotte, NC).
Photo Credit: Stephen Lew, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
