LSU Basketball: How incoming transfer Kavell Bigby-Williams impacts the Tigers
Will Wade has completely overhauled the LSU basketball program, now adding Oregon transfer Kavell Bigby-Williams. What will he add to the team?
Oregon transfer Kavell Bigby-Williams became the latest addition to head coach Will Wade’s 2017 recruiting class when he chose the LSU Tigers on Tuesday. Wade, who became the Tigers’ head coach just three months ago, has brought in seven new players to the program.
LSU is Bigby-Williams’ third team in the last three years. The 6-foot-11 forward began his career at Gillette (Wyo.) College, where he was 2015-16 national junior college Player of the Year after he averaged 16.8 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 blocks. He originally signed with Montana State.
The London, England native appeared in 37 games for Oregon a season ago. He notched one double-double for the Ducks. Bigby-Williams averaged 3.0 points along with 2.8 boards in 9.6 minutes of action overall.
Bigby-Williams solidifies the Tigers front court. He is long and athletic, which enhances his shot-blocking ability. He is also a quality rebounder though he still needs to develop his offensive game overall. The big man shot just 45.5% from the field in 2016-17.
As Scout.com reported, Bigby-Williams said this about joining LSU:
"“Just the relationship my people and I had with the coaching staff, and I feel it’s a place I can get better at and get to my goal which is to play at the next level.”"
Bigby-Williams, who must sit out the upcoming season, takes the roster spot of center Elbert Robinson. Robinson is stepping away from basketball for medical reasons. Bigby-Williams will have one year of eligibility left beginning in 2017-18.
Consensus four-star point guard Tremont Waters leads Wade’s stellar first recruiting class, which is the 19th best in the country according to ESPN. Wade also brought in four-star center Mayan Kiir along with transfers Daryl Edwards and Jeremy Combs. Edwards spent last season at Northwest Florida State while Combs graduated from North Texas.
Wings Galen Alexander and Brandon Rachal were signed by former head coach Johnny Jones.
While Bigby-Williams is ineligible to play this season, his scholarship still counts against the Tigers this year. LSU is currently at the maximum limit, meaning that the Tigers are done adding players unless someone else leaves. Two players have already transferred from the program since Wade took over.
Look for the Tigers to struggle this year as Wade adjusts to the SEC. LSU does have some talent, but they will be relatively inexperienced. Seniors Jalyn Patterson and Aaron Epps are the only players to have earned three letters.
In total, the Tigers return eight players from last year’s squad that went 10-21. Duop Reath, a 6’11” senior forward, and junior guard Brandon Sampson lead the returnees. Reath averaged 12.0 points and 6.2 rebounds while Sampson contributed 11.6 points a game.
Depending on Waters, Alexander’s and Rachal’s development, it seems that the Tigers will have a good chance at making the NCAA Tournament for the second time this decade at some point soon. The Tigers biggest losses during the next offseason figure to be Reath and Patterson. But if Waters develops as expected, he will more than fill Patterson’s shoes and Bigby-Williams is more than capable of doing the same for Reath.
Next: Expectations for Butler's 2017 recruiting class
LSU will have at least four open scholarships available for 2017-18. The Tigers don’t have any commitments from a player from the class of 2018 though they do have 26 open offers. Top-ranked 2018 point guard Javonte Smart along with five-stars Romeo Langford and Nazreon Reid are among the Tigers’ targets for the 2018 class.