LSU Basketball Loses Another Highly-Touted Player To Portal Amid Will Wade Hiring

LSU Tigers forward Matthew Gilhool intends to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after spending one season in Baton Rouge, according to 247Sports.

Gilhool signed with the program as a Top-75 prospect in the 2025 Recruiting Cycle after joining Matt McMahon's top Signing Class, but his stint became short-lived after a coaching change.

The 6-foot-11, 213-pounder out of Pennsylvania did not see any action as a true freshman.

LSU head coach Will Wade continues navigating exit meetings with players as he begins the early phases of roster reconstruction with the NCAA Transfer Portal opening for business on Monday, April 7.

"I've had some one-on-one meetings with five or six of the guys. I mean we had a lot of seniors last year. So there's quite a few guys who can't come back," Wade said of the current roster.

"But I've met with five or six of the guys that are in town. We've spoken. We want anybody at LSU that wants to be at LSU. If you want to be here, we want you here."

Gilhool became the fifth member of the 2025-26 roster to reveal intentions of entering the NCAA Transfer Portal since Wade was revealed as the next head coach of the LSU Fightin' Tigers.

LSU forward Matt Gilhool is entering the transfer portal, source tells @247Sports

The 6-11 forward is a former four-star recruit and will have 4 years of eligibility remaining pic.twitter.com/2EZYm8vANR
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) April 1, 2026

The Transfer Portal Departures [4]:

No. 1: PG Dedan Thomas Jr.

LSU Tigers point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. became the first domino to fall this offseason after revealing he will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and depart Baton Rouge after one season with the program.

Prior to his time in the Bayou State, Thomas spent two seasons at UNLV before transferring to LSU, where he missed most of the 2025-26 season with a nagging foot injury.

He ended the year with averages of 15.3 points in 16 games, 2.7 rebounds and had 104 assists (6.50 apg) and just 26 turnovers (4.00 assist-to-turnover ratio).

No. 2: F Jalen Reed

Tigers forward Jalen Reed revealed he will be departing Baton Rouge after missing most of the 2025-26 season due to an achilles injury.

He played an average of 18 minutes in the first six games of the season - averaging 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds a contest.

“Jalen Reed suffered a season-ending (left) Achilles tendon injury during last Friday night’s game versus Drake," McMahon said in a statement.

"He underwent successful surgery this morning in Baton Rouge. We are absolutely heartbroken and devastated for Jalen. His journey back to the court has been inspiring to everyone in our program."

LSU Tigers Basketball: Will Wade. — Courtesy of LSU Tigers Basketball.

No. 3: SG Ron Zipper

LSU Tigers guard Ron Zipper has announced he will depart Baton Rouge after spending one season with the Tigers.

He averaged 2.2 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.2 assistant on 35.7 percent from the field. Zipper made his way to the Bayou State last offseason from Israel.

No. 4: G Mazi Mosley

Tigers guard Mazi Mosley will enter the free agent market following one season in Baton Rouge after signing as a Top-100 prospect in the 2025 Recruiting Cycle.

Mosley appeared in 19 games across the 2025-26 season where he averaged 6.4 minutes per game with 1.8 points and 0.6 rebounds.

Now, he's off to the free agent market as the 6-foot-5 guard prepares to hit the portal once it opens on April 7.

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