Predicting LSU Basketball's Starting Lineup for the 2024-25 Season

After the 2023-24 season where Matt McMahon's LSU Basketball team went just 17-16 while going 9-9 in conference the LSU Tigers look to return to competing for SEC championships and for an NCAA title. This roster will be arguably the most talented group McMahon has had bolstered by a strong signing class and a group of talented transfers.

Due to the high class of players, McMahon has brought in there are several different lineup combinations the Tigers can play this season. It'll be interesting to see how McMahon handles his freshmen guards and some of the returning players with three elite transfers coming in. Here is what we think the LSU Basketball team's starting lineup will look like.

Point Guard - Jordan Sears

Transferring in from UT-Martin, Jordan Sears will likely lead the LSU offense for the 2024-25 season. Sears is highly decorated twice being named a First-Team All-OVC player after averaging 21.6 Points Per Game which ranked ninth in Division I basketball. The Guard brings incredible scoring upside for the LSU basketball team as a 43.2% three-point shooter while averaging 4.5 assists per game. Sears will play a big part in mentoring four-star recruit Curtis Givens who may at some point this season become the team's starting point guard.

Shooting Guard - Cam Carter

The LSU Basketball team got an incredible transfer in Cam Carter who joins the team after spending the last two years at Kansas State. Carter is returning home by transferring to Louisiana and has played at the Maravich Center scoring 21 points against LSU in 2023. He'll bring big game experience to LSU as a member of the Kansas State team that made a run to the elite eight. There is a lot to be excited about with Carter after he averaged 14.6 Points Per Game, 5 rebounds per game, and 1.4 assists per game.

Small Forward - Tyrell Ward

It was one of if not the biggest win this offseason when Matt McMahon got Tyrell Ward to return to LSU for a third season. The former five-star recruit took a massive jump last season, scoring 9.1 points per game, with 2.3 rebounds per game, and just under 1 steal per game. As a 41.3% three-point shooter, Ward will be a massive asset with this group of guards as a three-point threat. As the roster sees a ton of turnover through additions and subtractions, Ward's experience will be massive for LSU.

Power Forward - Derek Fountain

This season, LSU will reunite two former teammates as Derek Fountain played alongside Cam Carter while at Mississippi State. The end of the 2023-24 season indicated Matt McMahon's plans for Fountain this season as he started eight of the final nine games of the season. Fountain played in all 33 games in 2023-24 scoring 5.3 points per game with 4.2 rebounds per game. This season as Fountain sees his minutes go up he should certainly take a step up in both rebounding and in scoring which should give this team a serious boost.

Center - Jalen Reed

The other key piece that Matt McMahon was able to get to return was Jalen Reed as the big man returns for a third season. In 2023-24, Jalen Cook often got the starts over Jalen Reed however, Reed played in all but, one game this past season starting 20 games. Playing around 20 minutes per game, Reed was able to score 7.9 points per game with 4.1 rebounds per game. There's a ton to be optimistic about with Reed especially with his minutes going up. Matt McMahon will likely ask Reed to shoot the three more often as he shot 39.4% from three this past season which could be deadly for a great shooting roster.

This should be a strong three-point shooting LSU Basketball team

In conference, we've seen an Alabama Basketball team rely heavily on the three-point shot with great results as Nate Oats advanced to the Final Four. This year's LSU team has the talent to be one of the better three-point shooting teams in the conference and in the country. The Tigers will likely have four starters that shoot 39% or better from three which makes this group incredibly hard to guard. Add in three freshmen that can play immediately while two are seen as excellent three-point shooters and this team has serious top-to-bottom depth.

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