LSU basketball coach Matt McMahon is bringing another Louisiana native home to play for the Tigers.
George Washington University forward Hunter Dean, a 6-foot-10, 235-pounder from Mandeville, tweeted Monday afternoon that he will join McMahon’s program for the upcoming season.
Dean’s tweet, which was topped with the word “COMMITTED,” read: “You can take the boy out of the bayou but can’t take the bayou out of the boy.”
A former Lakeshore High standout, Dean is the fourth former prep player from the state to choose LSU from the transfer portal in the past five weeks.
He joins Jordan Wright (Dunham/Vanderbilt), Jalen Cook (Walker/Tulane) and Carlos Stewart (Dunham/Santa Clara) in the fold along with former Nevada big man Will Baker.
Dean was at GWU the past three seasons after playing his freshman year at Southern Miss. He has one season left to play with the COVID-19 bonus year allowed by the NCAA.
After averaging 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in just 11 games for Southern Miss, Dean moved on to GWU. There, he appeared in 68 games with 48 starts and averaged 6.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.
He averaged 4.5 points and 5.9 rebounds as a junior, but nearly doubled his scoring average to 8.7 and pulled down 6.1 rebounds a game in starting 26 of 30 games this past season as GWU went 16-16.
Dean averaged a career-high 26.8 minutes a game and shot 64.1% (100 of 156) from the field. He had season-highs of 21 points against La Salle and 13 rebounds vs. UMass.
At Lakeshore High School, Dean accumulated more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.
He was the District 8-4A most valuable player as a senior when he averaged 18.4 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks.
When Dean officially signs with the Tigers, McMahon will have 12 scholarship players on his roster with one opening left for next season.
The 60-day window on the transfer portal closes Thursday although players can still sign with a new school after that date.
LSU roster
(as of May 8)
Returnees (5)
F Derek Fountain
G Trae Hannibal
F Jalen Reed
F Tyrell Ward
F Mwani Wilkinson
Transfers (5)
C Will Baker
G Jalen Cook
F Hunter Dean (committed)
G Carlos Stewart
G/F Jordan Wright
Freshmen (2)
F Corey Chest
G Mike Williams
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