LSU Hoops Loses Seventh Player to NCAA Transfer Portal

LSU guard Cam Hayes has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after just one season with the Tigers basketball program.

Hayes joined Head Coach Matt McMahon’s squad after transferring in from North Carolina State for the 2022-23 season. A shifty, 6-foot-2 guard, Hayes played in 31 games for the Tigers with averages of 8.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists a night.

The seventh Tiger to enter the portal, McMahon now has even more flexibility when it comes to adding talent this offseason. Hayes showed flashes of elite scoring and playmaking ability, but just couldn’t keep it consistent during his lone season in Baton Rouge.

McMahon has already begun retooling his roster for next season after adding three players via the portal. Along with his portal additions, the Tigers have two 2023 prospects headed to town with Corey Chest, the No. 1 player in Louisiana, and three-star guard Mike Williams.

The Additions:

Jalen Cook - Tulane

LSU added two-time First Team All-AAC guard Jalen Cook last 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.

Jordan Wright - Vanderbilt

The Baton Rouge native averaged 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for Vanderbilt 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.

Will Baker - Nevada

The former four-star big man is fresh off of a career year with the Wolfpack where he’s spent his last three years.

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. 

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.