The offseason has been underway for the LSU Basketball program for a week since the Tigers turned down their bid to the NIT Tournament. The decision to decline was in part because of uncertainty over who would play with the transfer portal looming but, it was also so Matt McMahon and his staff could turn the page to the offseason ahead.
This offseason is crucial for McMahon and LSU after the Tigers finished 15th in the SEC as LSU is going to up its game on the NIL front meaning Matt McMahon has more resources to try building a winner. As LSU needs to get more talented, Matt McMahon will be leaning on the transfer portal to go out and land the pieces he needs to win in the SEC.
Among the players that may end up donning the purple and gold is Prairie View A&M Guard Tanahj Pettway who LSU is already showing interest in.
Prairie View A&M G Tanahj Pettway (@Tanahj_x3) has heard from the following schools.
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) March 22, 2025
Cal State Bakersfield
Charlotte
Dayton
Fairfield
Fresno State
George Washington
LSU
LMU
Penn State
Pepperdine
San Diego
Santa Clara
TCU
Tulsa
UCSB
Vanderbilt
Washingtonhttps://t.co/ox1UjrHavV pic.twitter.com/kcqOKJvLtm
This season at Prairie View A&M, Pettway averaged 17.0 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game, and shot 44.1% from the field. Pettway leaves Prairie View A&M after one season as he started his career at Stoneybrook and also had a stint with New Mexico State.
As LSU loses two of its leading scorers in Cam Carter and Jordan Sears, Pettway is a player Matt McMahon can bring in to help replace some of that scoring. In the case of Sears where LSU is losing its primary guard, Pettway can come in to run the offense serving as a one year bridge while some of the younger guards adjust to basketball at the College level.
The Transfer Portal officially opens on Monday, so it'll be interesting to see how quickly Matt McMahon and his staff move along with which transfers they get on campus for visits.