Matt McMahon, LSU Attacking Transfer Portal, Revamping Roster

Matt McMahon is prepared to change the narrative as he attacks the transfer portal this offseason to retool his roster. After signing the No. 1 player in Louisiana for the 2023 class, he’s building a young foundation, but adding experienced talent to his roster via the portal puts them in win-now mode.

LSU struggled during the 2022-23 season, and after going 2-16 in SEC play, McMahon has seen a roster overhaul. With six players entering the portal, the Tigers are revamping their roster in a big way.

We’ve seen this coaching staff lock in their backcourt for next season in Tulane transfer Jalen Cook and Vanderbilt guard Jordan Wright, but what’s next?

An update on the moves this offseason and a pair of bigs who are on campus this weekend:

The Return of Jalen Cook

LSU added two-time First Team All-AAC guard Jalen Cook on Friday, 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.

Cook is fresh off of a dominant year after averaging 19.9 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.

Cook began his collegiate career in Baton Rouge but transferred out of the program after his freshman campaign. Now returning to the place where it all started, he has the chance to take on a major workload alongside Wright as the two Louisiana natives try to bring LSU basketball back to the standard.

Hometown Hero Jordan Wright Commits

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.

Once Wright announced his commitment to LSU, it sent shockwaves across college basketball, leading to Cook returning to Baton Rouge. With Wright recruiting alongside McMahon, they’re one-for-one so far.

“I’m recruiting [Jalen Cook] as hard as probably Coach McMahon and his staff are. I talk to him everyday. We’ve got that relationship," Wright said on Wednesday. "I would love to play with him again so I hope it works out so that he comes back to LSU. I definitely would like to see him put on that purple and gold.

The Targets: Will Baker and BJ Mack

Baker spent three seasons at Nevada following a stint with Texas during his freshman campaign. The 7-foot, 240-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 with Baker on campus this weekend, he’ll be accompanied by another big-time target in BJ Mack.

Mack, a Wofford transfer, has been one of the more highly sought-after players in the transfer portal. After hearing from over 35 schools, he trimmed his list to LSU, Alabama, South Carolina, Iowa and Arkansas.

Mack will visit all of his finalists before making a decision with the Tigers on deck for this weekend. He’ll be in town for a three-day trip to Baton Rouge.

“With them having Matt McMahon, we played against them this year. I was able to get an in-depth and personal look at them,” Mack told 247Sports. “They played through KJ Williams. I could see our similarities so I could put myself in a position in the SEC. Also, I know I have a lot of high school friends like Cam Hayes that play there. When Coach Matt was at Murray State, they were recruiting me. I have been able to build a relationship with them before.”