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LSU Basketball: 3 reasons why the Tigers can win the SEC in 2018-19

By Brian Rauf

BATON ROUGE, LA - JANUARY 28: Fans of the LSU Tigers celebrate following a victory over the Kentucky Wildcats at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 28, 2014 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 87-82. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - JANUARY 28: Fans of the LSU Tigers celebrate following a victory over the Kentucky Wildcats at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 28, 2014 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 87-82. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 28: Nazreon Reid #5 of Roselle Catholic High School attempts a dunk during the 2018 McDonald’s All American Game at Philips Arena on March 28, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 28: Nazreon Reid #5 of Roselle Catholic High School attempts a dunk during the 2018 McDonald’s All American Game at Philips Arena on March 28, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2. Dominant recruiting class

Along with Waters’ development, a star-studded recruiting class is the biggest reason for the renewed excitement around the program.

Wade was able to land a pair of talented and versatile five-star forwards in Naz Reid and Emmitt Williams, both of whom project to start right away for the Tigers. They are also joined, among others, by two four-star prospects in combo guard Ja’Vonte Smart and forward Darius Days, who were each ranked among the top 62 prospects in the country and will also make immediate impacts.

The biggest thing this class will provide is needed depth and skill down low, particularly on the glass. LSU ranked 234th in the country in rebounding margin last season and they don’t have a single big man returning from their rotation.

That was the biggest area the Tigers needed to address and they did so by landing three of the 12 highest-rated power forwards in the 2018 class in Reid, Williams, and Days.

Furthermore, head coach Will Wade thinks they’ve found another star in Reid, who put up a double-double in the McDonald’s All-American Game and has a special skill set because of his ability to handle the ball on the perimeter.

"“He is a player that brings a combination of strength, length and a shooting touch with him that will have an immediate impact on our program next season. He has the type of game that will easily transfer to college play when he arrives at LSU. We look forward to working with him and adding to his game to prepare him for the next level.”"

If Reid becomes LSU’s second legitimate star and this trio of freshmen forwards solidify the frontcourt, the Tigers will be a very dangerous team without a significant weakness.

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