When LSU men’s basketball opens the 2026 season, the Tigers will have a familiar backcourt connection in a very unfamiliar place. Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark, who spent one year together at UCLA, both landed in Baton Rouge this offseason and now find themselves reunited under Will Wade.
Their path to LSU followed the same modern college basketball script: the transfer portal, a fresh start, and a quick turn from one roster to another. Clark was first to make the move after his season with the Bruins ended. A month later, Dent followed him to LSU, giving Wade two guards who already knew how to play off each other.
Clark’s route to Baton Rouge came after a winding college journey. He had already played at Louisville and Illinois before heading to UCLA, where he topped 1,000 career points in late February.
As a fifth-year senior, he was among the players petitioning the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility, and that uncertainty created roster issues for the Bruins. After a phone call with Wade in early August, Clark chose Louisiana and joined a group that already included international players and SEC transfers.
Dent’s story took a different path, but ended in the same place. He spent three seasons at New Mexico before transferring to UCLA, where his lone year in Los Angeles was expected to be his last.
He announced his retirement in May, then became one of the players granted another year of eligibility. That opened the door for a return to the court, and Wade’s call brought him to LSU just nine days after Clark had committed.
The two guards also arrive with real production behind them. Dent made history in the Big Ten Tournament, becoming the first UCLA player in 13 years to post a triple-double when he finished with 12 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds against Rutgers.
Clark closed his Bruins stint as a disruptive two-way guard, finishing with 32 steals, the second-most on the team, while averaging 11.5 points per game. His high point came in December 2025, when he scored 30 against Cal Poly.
LSU has already gotten a preview of what the pairing can look like. Through the Tigers’ first three home games, Dent has put up 41 points and 25 assists, while Clark has added 13 points and 9 assists.
For now, the former Bruins are back together, wearing purple and gold and giving LSU a backcourt built on familiarity as much as talent.
In Other News...
LSU Brings One Dangerous Edge Into Texas Clash Despite Clear Concerns
LSU heads into its matchup with Texas carrying the kind of offensive profile that can make a game feel dangerous in a hurry. The Tigers have been productive enough to rank near the top nationally in yards per game and third-down conversions, which means drives can stay alive and pressure can build even when the rhythm is uneven. For Texas, coming off a win over Missouri and now heading on the road, the challenge is less about stopping LSU from moving the ball and more about keeping those possessions from turning into momentum swings.
The concern for LSU is that the same offense has not always finished the job, with red zone scoring and the running game still leaving room for improvement. On the other side of the ball, the Tigers bring a defense built to disrupt, led by a nation-best sack percentage, but one that can also be exposed by explosive plays. That combination gives this matchup a sharp edge: LSU has enough firepower and pass-rush pressure to tilt the night, even if the cracks in its profile leave Texas with openings if it can stay patient and capitalize. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Playoff Hopes Just Took Another Hit After Alabama
LSUs path back into the College Football Playoff conversation got a lot steeper after the loss to Alabama, a defeat that left the Tigers with three losses and pushed them into an uncomfortable spot in the rankings. They are sitting at No. 14 for now, but the committees next update is expected to send them sliding well outside that range, a reminder that the margin for error has all but disappeared.
Even so, LSU is still likely to hang around the top 25, which says as much about the committees history as it does about the Tigers season. Three-loss teams have not been automatic afterthoughts in this process, but for LSU the bigger issue is whether there is enough left on the schedule to make the ranking matter again. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Talent Gets Its First Real Test Against Gonzaga
Before LSU gets its first major measuring stick against Gonzaga, the Tigers are already drawing notice from the other sideline. Mark Few singled out Will Wades roster for its talent and the international flavor it brings, a nod to a group that has plenty of pieces but still needs to prove how well they fit together when the games matter most.
Wade has been equally clear-eyed about the challenge ahead, pointing to Gonzagas size and the quality of its big men as a tough matchup for his team. LSU has the kind of roster that can make noise, but this is the sort of game that starts to show whether potential turns into a real rotation and a real identity. [Read more 🡒]