OVC Player of Year KJ Williams follows Matt McMahon from Murray State to LSU basketball
LSU basketball has added Murray State center KJ Williams from the transfer portal, LSU announced on Thursday.
At 6-foot-10 and 245 pounds, Williams reunites with new LSU coach Matt McMahon after averaging 18 points and 8.4 rebounds as a junior. He was the leading scorer for the Racers the last two seasons and won the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year award in 2021-22.
"It's been a long journey and now the decision has been made," Williams said in a video he posted on Instagram. "LSU, let's boot up."
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Williams is the third Murray State player LSU has added this offseason, as the Tigers have already brought in guards Justice Hill and Trae Hannibal. Along with McMahon, LSU also added Murray State assistant Casey Long to serve the same role on the Tigers staff.
"KJ perfectly fits the profile of what we are building in Baton Rouge … elite talent, high character, great toughness, unselfish teammate, and the ability to impact winning. It has been very rewarding to watch his development throughout his career," McMahon said in a school release. "KJ is skilled in the post, effective in our ball screen system, and also shoots the ball extremely well from the three."
LSU has added 11 scholarship players this offseason and Williams is the third center, following Northwestern State transfer Kendal Coleman and three-star recruit and former Murray State commit Corneilous Williams.
McMahon told the Advertiser Wednesday that LSU was looking to make another upgrade to its frontcourt this offseason.
"If we're able to do that, it puts you in a position where you just pursue the best available player that's going to fit what we're trying to build," McMahon said at the Tiger Athletic Foundation's Coaches Caravan at Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux.
The Tigers have also brought in Mississippi State forward Derek Fountain and NC State guard Cam Hayes from the transfer portal while also convincing LSU guard Justice Williams and forward Mwani Wilkinson to return from the portal. From the high school ranks, the Tigers have also signed four-star forwards Tyrell Ward and Jalen Reed.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: KJ Williams transfers to LSU basketball from Murray State in portal
