LSU just added another major piece to its future, and this one comes with serious national buzz.
Xavier Young, a 6-foot-10, 210-pound center from Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy in Dallas, Texas, has committed to LSU and will move from the 2028 recruiting class into 2027. ESPN’s Paul Biancardi reported Saturday that Young, who turned 16 in March, plans to spend at least two years at LSU before making the jump to an NBA career.
Young arrives with elite credentials. ESPN has him ranked No. 9 nationally in the 2028 class, while 247Sports lists him at No. 11 and Rivals has him at No.
- Those rankings are expected to change once the reclassification becomes official.
LSU beat out a strong final group for his pledge. Tennessee, Michigan, Maryland and TCU were all in the mix, and Young had nearly 40 scholarship offers overall. Among the schools that offered him were Kansas, Houston, Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Alabama, Indiana and Texas Tech.
His recruitment included official visits to LSU, Maryland and Michigan in September.
Young also made his mark on the international stage. He represented the United States at the 2026 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup and helped the Americans win gold.
Over seven games, he averaged 7.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 77.8 percent from the field. He posted 16 points and nine rebounds against Italy, then added 11 points and five rebounds against Australia.
With Young on board, LSU’s 2027 class now includes four highly regarded prospects. He joins five-star guards Reese Alston and King Gibson, along with two-sport standout Ahmad Hudson.
Alston, a 6-foot-3 guard from Second Baptist School in Houston, committed Thursday. Gibson, a 6-foot-4 guard from SPIRE Academy, pledged earlier in October.
Hudson, a 6-foot-6 prospect from Ruston, Louisiana, is also committed to LSU football.
Young’s decision gives LSU the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. Wade and his staff now have four commitments in the 2027 cycle, including three prospects from Texas and Louisiana and Gibson from SPIRE Academy.
In Other News...
LSU May Be Weighing A Surprising Lamar Brown Role Change
Lamar Browns Instagram post has added a little intrigue to LSUs roster picture, because the freshman defensive lineman appears to be hinting at a possible move to the offensive line. Brown has mostly been used on the defensive side this season, and his playing time has been limited, which makes any potential shift worth watching as the Tigers continue sorting out where young talent might fit best.
LSU has not officially confirmed any position change, and for now Browns future remains in the realm of possibility rather than announcement. Still, a switch like this would be notable for a player whose early college role has not yet fully settled, and it gives the Tigers another personnel storyline to monitor as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Got A Stunning Title Vote Before Alabama Week
Nick Saban rarely hands out compliments lightly, which is why his latest national title pick turned heads around Baton Rouge. With LSU sitting at 6-2 and No. 15 in the rankings, the former Alabama coach pointed to the Tigers as a sleeper candidate to win it all, citing a team that has paired strong scoring with a defense that has done its part. Six of LSU's wins have come by 20 or more points, a sign that when the Tigers are rolling, they can separate from opponents in a hurry.
The timing makes the endorsement even more interesting with Alabama coming in at 6-2 and ranked No. 10 for a matchup that already had plenty riding on it. Saban did flag quarterback Sam Leavitt's turnover issues as a possible obstacle, a reminder that LSU still has questions to answer before any championship talk gets serious. Still, getting that kind of vote of confidence from Saban just before Alabama week adds another layer to a game that was already going to carry plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Faces An Early Recruiting Test In A Battle Fans Will Notice
The early stages of B.J. LaFells recruitment already have a familiar LSU feel to them. The son of former Tigers receiver Brandon LaFell, the 2029 prospect has picked up offers from LSU and Notre Dame, along with other programs, and the Tigers are leaning into a pitch that combines family ties with a long track record of developing NFL receivers.
For LSU, this is the kind of battle fans will notice because it reaches beyond the usual recruiting chatter and into legacy territory. Notre Dame gives him a national alternative with its own appeal, and the process is still just beginning, with coaching relationships and development opportunities likely to matter as much as any school name on the offer sheet. [Read more 🡒]