On Sunday afternoon, surrounded by her teammates, friends and family at Sacred Heart Academy, elite guard ZaKiyah Johnson announced her commitment to LSU — opting to forge a new path of opportunity and growth away from home.
For fans and followers of Johnson’s other finalists, Kentucky and Louisville, the decision may have come as a surprise. The state’s top prospect (No. 13 nationally) in the class of 2025 and one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Kentucky high school basketball, decked out in purple and gold with a massive smile on her face.
“I knew I wanted to wait to take all of my visits before I kind of made a decision,” Johnson said. “Because you never know what you’re gonna see and what can change. So I did wait until I took every visit. I set all my pros and cons out. I set the realities out of everything, and it just came down to — ‘Do you want to stay home, or do you want to leave?’”
It’s not difficult to wrap your head around why any five-star prospect would want to play at LSU. Just two seasons removed from its first NCAA title, LSU has reached the national spotlight both within and outside of the rapidly growing world of women’s college basketball. Since Kim Mulkey left Baylor in 2021 after decades — and three national championships — to start anew in Baton Rouge, the Tigers’ program has exploded in popularity, and its rosters have featured some of the brightest lights in today’s game, from WNBA rookie standout Angel Reese to recording artist and sharpshooter Flau’jae Johnson.