LSU Transfer Portal Target Zyon Pullin Reveals New Home

Matt McMahon had his eyes on UC Riverside transfer Zyon Pullin, one of the top guards remaining in the NCAA Transfer Portal, but the prized prospect has made his decision. Pullin will head to Gainesville to suit up for the Florida Gators.

The electrifying floor general was reportedly down to LSU and Florida before making the decision to become a Gator.

After the addition of Kentucky forward Daimion Collins last month, many believed this program would be finished in the transfer portal, but clearly McMahon had other plans with the Tigers pursuing Pullin.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound guard is fresh off of a 2023-23 season where he averaged 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists a night for the Highlanders.

NEWS: UC Riverside transfer Zyon Pullin has committed to Florida over LSU, he told ESPN. Pullin was the best guard remaining in the portal. First-team All-Big West selection averaged 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season. Gives the Gators a major backcourt boost.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) June 7, 2023

A versatile floor general, Pullin shot nearly 40% from three-point range (39.4%) while hitting 48.6% of his shots from inside the arc.

The Tigers have already added Tulane transfer guard and Vanderbilt combo guard Jordan Wright ahead of the 2023-24 season, but with depth on this program’s mind, they could look to add another lead guard to their roster this offseason.

A look into who Head Coach Matt McMahon has added thus far:

Jordan Wright - Vanderbilt

The Baton Rouge native averaged 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for Vanderbilr last season, leading the Commodores to a big-time turnaround under Head Coach Jerry Stackhouse.

Wright has been surgical during his college career. A player who can score in the blink of an eye, he fills an immediate need for the Tigers where he will spend his final year of eligibility.

Jalen Cook - Tulane

LSU also added two-time First Team All-AAC guard Jalen Cook, giving the Tigers a shot-making facilitator for the 2023 season. The former Tulane guard has been spectacular during his time with the Green Wave, looking to bring his playmaking ability back to Baton Rouge after a stint with the Tigers to begin his college career.

Cook is fresh off of a dominant year after averaging 19.8 points and 4.9 assists for the Green Wave. One of the top guards in the portal, McMahon makes a huge splash in securing Cook, who received interest from over 40 schools once entering the portal.

Will Baker - Nevada

Baker spent three seasons at Nevada following a stint with Texas during his freshman campaign. The 7-foot, 245-pound post player was a third-team all-conference honoree this season on his way to a career year. A former four-star recruit, his game is coming together rather quickly.

Baker averaged career highs in points (13.6) and rebounds (5.2) this year while adding 26 assists, 18 steals and nine blocks on 56% from the field and 35.5 percent on threes. LSU is in search of bigs, and after an official visit to Baton Rouge last weekend, it sealed the deal for the high-priority target.

Carlos Stewart - Santa Clara

The Baton Rouge native just finished his second season with the Broncos where he started in 33 games this year. Stewart averaged 15.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for his squad on his way to a career year.

The shifty 6-foot-1 guard has been efficient during his time out West, but as he returns home to suit up for the purple and gold, it’ll be a homecoming. Stewart attended Dunham School in Baton Rouge with new Tiger Jordan Wright as the two team up once again in different colors.

Hunter Dean - George Washington

The 6-foot-10 big gives this program another piece to their roster moving forward.

Dean spent his freshman campaign at Southern Miss before transferring to George Washington for his last three years. Now heading to Baton Rouge, the Louisiana native comes to LSU as a graduate transfer.

In the 2022-23 season, Dean averaged 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds a night on an efficient 64.1% from the field. A true big, Dean gives the Tigers some stability moving forward inside, an area this unit struggled in last season.

A career season last year, Dean nearly doubled his production in points while upping his rebounds as well. With the Tigers looking to add experience to their roster, Dean fits what McMahon is building like a glove.

Daimion Collins - Kentucky

When Collins arrived in Lexington, it was a challenge to get playing time for the Wildcats where he played roughly eight minutes a night for Calipari. A player who’s a lethal lob threat and thrives as an offensive rebounder, getting minutes alongside Oscar Tshiebwe, the nation’s top rebounder, put Collins in a bind. It limited his potential and the overall lineups he was forced into stunted his growth.

Now with LSU, the spacing of this offense should benefit him greatly. With the additions of Jordan Wright and Jalen Cook in the backcourt, two players who are gifted in the pick and roll, Collins could find success in this area.

A player whose midrange jumper shows fluidity and reliability, he can also make an impact for the Tigers there, but it’ll take consistency to become a threat on a routine basis. At 6-foot-9, 210 pounds, Collins has ideal size to play the four for LSU where he can open his game significantly.

Collins is a high-flying, explosive hooper. It’s what had him as the No. 1 prospect in Texas coming out of high school and a Top 15 player in the country. The ability to play above the rim and utilize his length on defense to pin shots against the backboard made him a two-way star at the high school level.