LSU cemented itself as a contender from the SEC regular season title next on Monday when Trendon Watford, Javonte Smart, and Darius Days all withdrew from the 2020 NBA Draft and opted to return to school.
The return of those three players plus versatile wing Charles Manning Jr. means that the Tigers will bring back four of their top six scorers from last season’s team that won 21 games prior to the cancellation of the SEC Tournament.
But beyond that quartet, Will Wade is bullish on one specific newcomer: 6-3 freshman Cam Thomas.
“He’s an elite scorer,” Wade said of Thomas Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast. “He’s going to be somebody who’s going to be one of the premier scorers in the country and I’m not just talking about freshmen.”
Thomas was ranked as a five-star prospect by most recruiting services.
LSU will also add a trio of transfers up front in Josh LeBlanc (Georgetown), Bryan Penn-Johnson (Washington), and Shareef O’Neal (UCLA).
Wade said that the Tigers are attempting to get a waiver from the NCAA for the 7-foot Johnson to play immediately during the 20-21 season.
LSU is currently ranked 17th in the ROTHSTEIN 45.
