By Hunt Palmer
The SEC has a chance to put a bow on the greatest basketball season in conference history this weekend. The league blitzkrieged the country in November and December and wound up with 14 teams in the NCAA Tournament. That group of 14 teams has won 22 games and is guaranteed a win on Saturday when Auburn and Florida play in the Final Four.
LSU clearly didn’t match the level of its conference competition. The challenge now is to build a roster capable of keeping up, and that comes from the transfer portal.
That ball started rolling on Monday when LSU grabbed commitments from Michael Nwoko and Dedan Thomas Jr.
We’ll break down every portal commitment the Tigers reel in with our Portal Profile.
WHAT WE KNOW
Nwoko is making his third different stop in three years. He was a four-star recruit when he inked with Jim Larranega and the Miami Hurricanes in 2023. He was also nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game.
Nwoko’s best attribute is his size. He’s all of 6-foot-10 and tops 250 lbs. He’s got the physical presence and strength to play on the block against the biggest post players in the SEC.
As a freshman, he played in 29 games, averaging 2.7 points and 2.o rebounds over six minutes per game.
He transferred to Mississippi State. As a sophomore, he started 32 of 34 games. He didn’t play as many minutes as most starters, just 15.4 per game.
All of his work is done around the rim. He attempted 158 field goals, and only seven of them were from three. He went 1-for-7. He did shoot 53 percent from the floor and led the team in offensive rebounding when pro-rated for minutes played.
MICHAEL NWOKO THROWS IT DOWN 🔨
Mississippi State is making a STATEMENT at home 🏠
(via @HailStateMBK)pic.twitter.com/1HzbzDszER
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 5, 2024
He scored in double figures seven times in 34 games including 18 on Pittsburgh, 10 on Kentucky and 11 at Georgia. He struggled from the free throw line, shooting just 61 percent.
Mississippi State – Chin Elbow Get PnR
Side-to-side movement to set up 45 pick-and-roll at the nail with Cameron Matthews + Michael Nwoko. Alabama switches, keeps the ball in front with Grant Nelson + Cliff Omoruyi, but Nwoko scores 1-on-1 in the post pic.twitter.com/TzQ6VzrU2G
— Brian Geisinger (@bgeis_bird) March 18, 2025
Defensively, he finished second on State’s team in blocks with 24 though he never blocked more than two shots in an SEC game.
THE FIT
Nwoko is a role player. It’s not the flashiest role, but it’s vital. He’s a big-bodied post presence who can run and jump with every big in the SEC. He can’t score with every big. He’s not as versatile as some of them. He’s not going to be a first-team All-SEC selection. But as far as height, weight and mobility, he checks the boxes. LSU could not do that in 2024-25. Corey Chest is not tall enough. Daimion Collins and Robert Miller weren’t strong enough. Jalen Reed wasn’t healthy enough.
Nwoko should join a front court that features Reed, Miller and Collins along with freshman Matt Gilhool. He’ll be the muscle among that group, and his presence should allow the more skilled players to avoid some foul trouble dealing with the offensive forces in SEC front courts.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
I think Nwoko is a starter at the five who plays 20-25 minutes per night in SEC games. He’ll get his dunks and putbacks, but he’s not going to develop into an 13 point per game scorer or solid jump shooter. He’s a brute. Reed and Miller should be able to handle the scoring load either at the four or the five depending on whether or not Nwoko is on the floor.
Nwoko’s job will be to defend and rebound, and he should be able to handle that.
Every move LSU makes this offseason should be looked at through the lens of a salary cap. The addition of Dedan Thomas Jr. was likely a big splash. A wing with great shooting ability would be the same. Nwoko isn’t the flashiest signing, but it’s an important role to fill.
