Will Wade Inheriting Many More LSU Players Than He Left 4 Years Ago

New LSU coach Will Wade has a much deeper roster than the one he left behind in 2022.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:38pm

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Former LSU men's basketball coach Matt McMahon left new coach Will Wade a much better roster than the one Wade left McMahon after the 2021-22 season. McMahon's roster included five freshmen and three four-star signees, with four starters returning. However, five players have already entered the transfer portal ahead of the upcoming season.

Why it matters

Wade's return to LSU marks a significant shift in the program's trajectory after a disappointing four-year stretch under McMahon. The influx of talent Wade is inheriting could allow him to quickly rebuild the team and compete in the SEC, though retaining key players will be crucial.

The details

McMahon left Wade with nine players, including five freshmen and three four-star signees from his No. 24-ranked class of 2026. That included four starters - junior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr., junior 6-foot-10 forward Jalen Reed, junior 6-10 center Mike Nwoko, and freshman point guard Jalen Reece. Five players from the 2025-26 roster have already entered the NCAA Transfer Portal before the start of the new season, including Thomas, Reed, and three reserves.

  • Five players entered the transfer portal before the April 7 opening of the general portal.
  • The transfer portal will close on April 21.

The players

Dedan Thomas Jr.

A junior point guard who averaged 15.3 points and 6.5 assists last season.

Jalen Reed

A junior 6-foot-10 forward who averaged 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds.

Mike Nwoko

A junior 6-10 center who averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Jalen Reece

A freshman point guard who was the No. 11 point guard in the country out of Oak Ridge High in Orlando, Florida.

Kevin Thomas

A 2026 signee who is the No. 32 small forward in the country and No. 78 national prospect from Sagemont Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I've had some one-on-one meetings with five or six of the guys. I've met with five or six of the guys that are in town. We've spoken, and look, we want anybody at LSU that wants to be at LSU. If you want to be here, we want you here.”

— Will Wade, LSU Head Coach

“Skylar turned out to be a tremendous, tremendous player for us. We want folks that, like I said, are excited about LSU. We've had those conversations. Those conversations will continue. We're going to support the guys whatever they want to do. If they want to stay here at LSU, we're going to support them and find a role for them. And if they want to go somewhere else, we're going to support them in that, as well.”

— Will Wade, LSU Head Coach

What’s next

Wade can begin hosting transfers on April 10, and the transfer portal will close on April 21, giving players time to decide if they want to stay at LSU or enter the portal.

The takeaway

Wade's return to LSU presents an opportunity to quickly rebuild the program with the talented roster he's inheriting, but retaining key players will be crucial to his success.