Saturday is a big day for the LSU women's basketball program. Kim Mulkey and the 6th-ranked Tigers are set to host the 3rd-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in what is one of the most highly-anticipated games of the entire college basketball season. College GameDay will be on site setting the stage for the must-watch matchup, and the PMAC crowd is expected to be at a raucous level.
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Along with looking for their second top-10 win of the season, the Tigers are looking to make a statement in front of some of the top recruits in the country. Several elite prospects are scheduled to be in Baton Rouge this weekend in what is a huge recruiting opportunity for Mulkey and her staff.
Four elite prospects set to visit LSU for South Carolina showdown
LSU is set to host three 5-star recruits as well as one 4-star prospect on Saturday when the Gamecocks come to town. Several recruits are also being pursued by Dawn Staley and South Carolina, which adds even more importance to Saturday for Mulkey and the Tigers.
Kaleena Smith
Kaleena Smith is the No. 1 prospect in the country for the 2027 recruiting class. She is a do-it-all point guard who can score in a variety of ways. She put together a sensational spring and summer last year that resulted in an Adidas 3SSB Circuit Championship and was named League MVP.
Smith also attended the Adidas All-American Camp in California in October. Hailing from Ontario, CA, Smith has already racked up offers from LSU, Michigan, South Carolina, UCLA, and UConn. Given her consensus No. 1 ranking, she is a huge priority for LSU on the recruiting trail.
Caroline Bradley
5-star center Bradley is among the most sought-after recruits for the 2027 class. The 6'5" playmaker hails from Oak Grove, LA, making her a top priority for Mulkey's staff. Along with the ranked as the top player in Louisiana, Bradley is rated by 247Sports as the No. 7 overall player and the No. 1 center in the country for the 2027 recruiting class.
Mulkey and her staff have been in pursuit of Bradley for a while, and hit the road to River Ridge (LA) to watch her take on John Curtis back in December. She is primarily a center, but has a dynamic skill set that allows her to stretch the floor and play outside the paint.
Zaniya Johnson
Another center who will be at the PMAC on Saturday is Zaniya Johnson. Johnson is ranked as the No. 22 overall player and No. 4 center in the country by 247Sports. Hailing from Biloxi, MS, she is the No. 2 propsect in the state of Mississippi.
Johnson is rated as a 5-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite, and owns a 6'4" frame that allows her to command the frontcourt. She is able to finish through contact with ease, and would make for a great fit in Mulkey's system.
Kie'Aundria Acree
Acree is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 32 overall player and No. 9 small forward in the 2027 recruiting class. Furthermore, she is ranked as the No. 3 player in the state of Georgia. Acree has racked up over 20 offers so far, including from South Carolina, Tennessee, Baylor, and Miami (FL).
Acree is a 6'0" small forward who is an effective rebounder on both ends of the floor. She reached the 2,000-point mark earlier this season, and still has 1.5 seasons to go in her high school career. She is averaging over 31 points per game this season, which leads the state of Georgia.