A Strategic Overhaul for the Tigers
LSU’s 2026‑27 basketball roster will feature guard Austin Nunez, a 6‑foot‑2, 185‑pound talent who emerged as his team’s second‑leading scorer with 9.8 points per game last season. The redshirt junior, who averaged 2.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 30.4% from the field, 25.3% from three‑point range and 88.5% from the free‑throw line, brings a blend of scoring and playmaking to the program.
Nunez’s journey includes stints at Arizona State under Bobby Hurley, a sophomore season at Ole Miss coached by Chris Beard, and a brief return to Arizona State before foot surgery halted his Big 12 campaign. Prior to college, he was a four‑star recruit ranked No. 71 overall and No. 14 among point guards by 247Sports.
Alongside Nunez, the Tigers will welcome Kentucky forward Mo Dioubate, Brazilian pro center Marcio Santos, Michigan State guard Divine Ugochukwu and Kansas State guard Abdi Bashir, each expected to add depth and versatility to the lineup.
The coaching staff overhaul includes Rick Stansbury, the all‑time winningest coach at Mississippi State with a 293‑166 record over 14 seasons, and Johnny Jones, a former LSU player and head coach who led the program to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2014. They join veteran assistants Damon Stoudamire, a former Georgia Tech star and NBA player, and Vernon Hamilton, previously an NC State assistant and LSU director of player development.
With a blend of experienced transfers and a coaching staff steeped in Southeastern Conference history, LSU aims to translate its recruiting momentum into a competitive season. The moves underscore the program’s commitment to rebuilding around both talent acquisition and institutional knowledge.