LSU starting forward Corey Chest has been in the NCAA transfer portal for nearly two weeks. While the athletic redshirt freshman hasn’t made a decision on his next landing spot, he may be getting closer to one. He is reportedly down to five schools, and they also all play in the SEC.
Rival SEC Schools Fighting For Former LSU Starter: Is There A Favorite
Chest averaged 6.1 points on 60.7% shooting from the field,6.7 rebounds (2.4 offensive), and 1.2 blocks in 20 minutes over 26 appearances. He produced four double-doubles and grabbed double-figure rebounds nine times.
After starting the season off the bench for LSU, the former four-star recruit entered the Tigers’ starting lineup for game six. Chest started 19 games for the Tigers but was sent back to the bench when coach Matt McMahon decided to go with a four-guard lineup. He then saw his season come to a premature end due to a foot injury.
Chest is an athletic and lengthy 6-8 forward who plays hard. He is also an outstanding rebounder who excels in transition and finishes at the basket. Chest can defend all three frontcourt positions.
“It’s energy, it’s effort,” McMahon told Toyloy Brown of Nola.com about Chest. “Nothing I can coach. He just has a natural feel for how to go chase rebounds and pursue the ball, and he continues to do it at a high level. One of the better instinctual rebounders I’ve been around in my time.”
SEC Teams Interested In Corey Chest
Chest is considered a four-star transfer. According to Pete Nakos of On3.com, he has drawn interest from Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas A&M, and Georgia. He has visited Texas A&M, Alabama, and Ole Miss.
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M was the first school that Chest visited. 247Sports Travis Branham reported that Chest was in College Station last weekend. It appears that Bucky McMillan, who the Aggies will reportedly hire to replace Buzz Williams, who left this week for Maryland, will have a lot of work to do. McMillan went 92-51 in five seasons at Samford, leading the Bulldogs to two Southern Conference regular-season titles and one NCAA tournament berth.
According to Tyler D. Davis of the Austin Statesman, McMillan only has one player left from this past season’s squad. Chris McDermott, a three-star 2024 recruit, has decided not to leave the program yet. McDermott saw just 45 minutes in seven appearances this past season.
However, McMillan may be able to convince the three incoming freshmen whom Williams signed for the 2025-26 class. The three players are all four-star recruits: Jasir Rencher, Jeremiah Green, and Aaron Glass.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Chest visited Alabama this past Monday.
Nate Oats has returned Alabama to a period of glory it has not experienced since the 10 years between 1981 and 1991. Oats has won nearly 70% of his games at Tuscaloosa while guiding the Crimson Tide to the Elite Eight in the last two seasons.
The Crimson Tide will lose at least five rotational players from this season’s 28-9 team, although more are expected to leave. Grant Nelson, Cliff Omoruyi, Chris Youngblood, and Mark Sears are out of eligibility. Meanwhile, Naas Cunningham and Mouhammed Dioubate have entered the transfer portal.
Senior Latrell Wrightsell, who ruptured his Achilles at the end of November, will decide whether to return to the Crimson Tide or transfer. Also, freshman Labaron Philbon may choose to head to the NBA, according to Blake Byler of On3. Oats has already secured the commitment of Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson and Florida State transfer Taylor Bol Bowen.
Not including Wrightsell, Alabama has 10 scholarship players for 2025-26. Three players are part of Oats’ 2025 freshman class, including four-star prospects London Jemison, Davion Hannah, and Amari Allen.
Depending on Wrightsell and Philbon’s decision, Alabama could have between five and seven scholarships available as the NCAA is permitting teams 15 scholarships starting in 2025.
Ole Miss Rebels
Chest visited the Oxford (Miss.) campus. Ole Miss is coming off its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019 as the Rebels went 24-12 last season. The Rebels also signed coach Chris Beard to a massive extension. Beard is 44-24 with the Rebels.
Beard has a lot of work to do. The Rebels currently have five players on their roster for next season following the departure of freshman John Bol. Two of the five players are incoming freshmen: four-star small forward Tylis Jordan and four-star shooting guard Patton Pinkins.
Besides Chest, according to Ben Garrett of On3, Ole Miss is also reportedly interested in several other transfers including: Pop Isaacs (Creighton), Jacari White (North Dakota State), AJ Storr (Kansas), Corey Washington (Wichita State), Jaron Pierre (Jacksonville State) and Augusto Cassia (Butler).
Auburn Tigers
Auburn, of course, is looking to make its first NCAA Finals appearance as the Tigers are in the Final Four for the second time under Bruce Pearl. Pearl is 246-124 in 11 seasons in Auburn, leading the Tigers to six NCAA tournament berths and two Final Fours.
Since Auburn’s season is not yet complete, it is not yet known who will return for next season. The Tigers have signed three incoming freshmen, all four-star recruits: Sebastin Williams-Adams, Kaden Magwood, and Simon Walker.
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia has three scholarships remaining for 2025-26, per 247Sports Jordan D. Hill, as eight players return from this season’s team that made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016. The Bulldogs, who are 56-46 under head coach Mike White, have won 20 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the mid-2010s. They also haven’t had a losing season in the last three seasons.
Georgia has lost five players this offseason, including three who left via the transfer portal. The Bulldogs have secured the commitment of four players, three incoming freshmen and Cal transfer Jeremiah Wilkerson.
Last Word
With the ever-changing college basketball landscape, all five schools could use a player like Chest. However, Nakos said yesterday that Ole Miss appears to be the favorite to land the New Orleans native.
“A source told On3 on Thursday that Ole Miss was headed in the right direction to land the power forward. Ole Miss center John Bol is leaving the program after one year, which means the Rebels need a jolt to their frontcourt.”
Nakos said he wasn’t confident in his prediction. Now that McMillan is captaining the Texas A&M ship, the Aggies may make the most sense for Chest.
So, I would have Texas A&M as No. 1, followed by Ole Miss. Alabama would be on my list, with Auburn and Georgia having outside chances.
Photo Credit: © Steve Roberts, Imagn Images
