By Hunt Palmer
It didn’t take Ronald Dupree’s international relationships long to pay off.
The new general manager for LSU basketball spent significant time as the director of international scouting for the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s been bringing foreign born players to the states for more than a decade and certainly helped LSU lure Ron Zipper from Israel. Zipper is the final piece to LSU’s 2025-26 puzzle as the Tigers look to find their way toward the middle of a loaded Southeastern Conference.
In total, LSU is bringing in three true freshman, seven transfers as well as Zipper. That’s 11 newcomers. While Zipper didn’t come from the transfer portal, I’ve come up with this catchy name, “Portal Profile”, so I’m sticking with it. “Foreign Former Professional Player Coming Overseas To Try College Basketball Profile” doesn’t have the same ring.
WHAT WE KNOW
Zipper has played professionally in Israel’s top league for multiple seasons. He’s a 6-foot-4, left-handed guard who fits a lot of the international stereotypes.
He’s not a great athlete, but he’s fundamentally sound and very skilled. He shoots a set shot from three-point range, but his release is lightning quick.
When he drives, he finishes below the rim, but he’s strong with the ball.
Often time we question whether or not a player without much of an NBA future can cash a check playing somewhere overseas. We don’t have to question that with Zipper. He’s already done it.
Zipper was the MVP of the 2021 FIBA U18 EuroBasket and a regular member of Israel’s national teams at every age.
Ron Zipper, @LSUBasketball signee, an incoming 6’5 Freshman Guard averaging 11.1 points and shooting 38.2% from the 3, for Israel Top League Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Former FIBA U18s MVP. pic.twitter.com/Ssd53CU9oV
— Rich Tapes (@rich_tapes) May 3, 2025
THE FIT
When I watch Zipper, I think of Santiago Vescovi who starred at Tennessee for five years. Vescovi hails from Uruguay, Zipper from Israel. Vescovi is probably a better distributor, and Zipper is probably a better scorer, but their games resemble each other.
Dedan Thomas Jr. will run the point for LSU. Zipper will play off the ball and be tasked with being a primary scorer. Much of that will come from spot up shooting where Zipper should be a high percentage guy. Because of that, he’ll be able to use his shot fakes to get defenders in the air and then attack.
Once he does that, he’ll have to adjust to the SEC athletes at the rim, because he cannot jump with them. That’s not totally new to him, but they’ll be the best athletes he’s played against.
I think Zipper is probably a starter for LSU. We’ll see how that shakes out with Rashad King, PJ Carter and Mazi Mosely. But, Zipper’s profile is probably more naturally suited for the two-guard than the pothers at this point.
HUNT’S PREDICTION
I think Zipper is LSU’s primary two-guard who will shoot 36-to-40 percent from three-point range and average 11 to 15 points per game.
In an ideal world, Zipper becomes a real scoring force that LSU found in a spot where they didn’t have much recruiting competition. That’s ambitious at this point but can’t be ruled out.
I think he’s a high floor addition that is going to be able to score when he’s on the court.
