Have yourself a day, coach Kim Mulkey. LSU women’s basketball has officially gained three transfer portal guard commitments from multiple immediate impact caliber players.
What a way to alleviate worries. After suffering three big-time transfer portal losses early in the offseason, LSU women’s basketball has come back and immediately upgraded at the guard position, landing three immediate impact players to fill those voids, as freshman Mjracle Sheppard, junior Shayeann Day-Wilson and sophomore Kailyn Gilbert will all join the roster in 2024-25.
Our Three Newest Tigers
Shayeann Day-Wilson, Kailyn Gilbert and Mjracle Sheppard pic.twitter.com/S6x22bxIGF
— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) April 24, 2024
The first guard to be announced also happened to be the youngest, as rising sophomore Mjracle Sheppard will make her way over to Baton Rouge from in-conference Mississippi State.
As a freshman this past year, the 5-foot-10 playmaker out of Bellevue, WA, averaged 17.6 minutes in her 35 total appearances, and put up a respectable stat line of 5.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per outing. She’ll likely be expected to battle for one of the backup guard spots in 2024.
Listen, I absolutely love Mjracle Sheppard! She’s a big physical guard that really gets after it especially on the defensive end of the court. She has so much too offer to a program and will be a positive fit wherever she lands! Looking forward to seeing her game grow/expand. pic.twitter.com/EVFhhhCFZc
— ZekeHoops (@HandsOffAssata) April 12, 2024
The second announcement came from a bit more of a veteran, as 5-foot-6 rising senior Shayeann Day-Wilson will make her way over from Miami. Entering her fourth season of women’s college basketball, Day-Wilson spent her first two seasons with the Duke Blue Devils, but had by far her most efficient season in 2023-24.
Having averaged 11.9 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 36.8 percent from beyond the arc this past season, the 5-foot-6, Toronto, ON, product can be expected to at the very least compete for a starting role with the purple and gold.
Shayeann Day-Wilson from DEEP
Duke leads No. 9 Iowa 36-28 at the half. pic.twitter.com/eaCbEWSSIL
— ESPN (@espn) December 3, 2021
The final commitment came from one of the best shooters in the country, as Kailyn Gilbert will leave the Arizona Wildcats in favor of the Tigers of LSU. Entering her third season of women’s college basketball, Gilbert will likely bring immediately high expectations to Baton Rouge.
The 5-foot-8 Tampa Bay, FL, product was about as electric as you’ll find while she was with the program in 2023-24, averaging 15.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc as a sophomore. Entering her junior season, she has the chance to immediately earn starting minutes with the purple and gold.
Kailyn Gilbert is TUFF
The Arizona commit makes it look easy @kailyngilbert @OGBR_Basketball pic.twitter.com/GCpM1JVUdw
— Jake Spegal (@JakeSpegal270) January 16, 2022
The biggest question for coach Kim Mulkey following these three big-time commitments will likely involve overall team chemistry. If she’s able to get her team to gel early on, this roster has the chance to be special. For now, all eyes are focused on the 2024-25 season, as November truly can’t come soon enough.
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