There was a lot of speculation about what Flau’jae Johnson’s next move would be.
Some thought that LSU Junior left school a year earlier, WNBA Draft, she was probably the top 10 pick this season. However, the deadline to declare a draft has come and go.
And people began to wonder if Johnson would return to LSU. There, she was a starter for three seasons or entered the transfer portal.
Earlier this month, she teased “a massive announcement” in an Instagram post. Although Johnson first added fuel to the fire surrounding the possibility of a transfer, she quieted some of those theories the following day by announcing she was on tour. Johnson has a successful career From the court as a hip hop artistOne of her songs is used With Powerade commercials In the NCAA tournament.
If there are still whispers about Johnson’s move, she let them rest at once on Wednesday.
“Yes, I’m back at LSU.” Johnson told Front Office Sports.
She added: “It’ll be me. I’ll allow Coach (Kim) Markey to coach my hell,” Johnson said. “Just everyone else is lined up. I’ll need to take it to take it. This is the standard here. I’m ready to do it. I wasn’t ready to do it. Now I know that it’s necessary.”
Johnson was tabbed as a four-star recruit by ESPN, who emerged from Marietta, Georgia’s Sprayberry High School, in 2022, and ranked as the 26th best recruit in his class. She became the starter at Marquis LSU, with an average of 11 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists winning the national championship in 2023, with Angel Rees leading the way.
This past season has been Johnson and Anesa Morrow leading the team as Reese has been off in the WNBA. LSU went on to the Elite 8, and despite Johnson’s 28 points, the Tigers fell to UCLA.
Johnson was the 2023 SEC Rookie of the Year, AP All-American of this past season and was selected twice for all regional teams in the NCAA Tournament. This season, she averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steel per 1.7 games from the floor, 38.3% from the land and 81% from the charity stripes.
LSU looks very different this season with WNBA and Shayeann Day-Wilson running out of her eligibility this season, and players like Sa’myah Smith, Jersey Wolfenbarger, Last-Tear Poa and Mjracle Sheppard joining the transfer portal. They’ve already got one reinforcement via the landing portal Notre Dame Center Kate Cobalt.
And as long as Johnson is there, the Tigers look like a competitor.
