LSU lands three players on the Naismith Preseason Watch List

The Naismith Trophy announced its preseason watch list and that of LSU on Monday afternoon Flau'Jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow And Mikaylah Williams put together a trio of tigers to make the breakthrough. LSU was one of six schools that had at least three players on the 50-player watch list, as the Tigers enter the year ranked seventh in the country in the AP poll.

The regular season is still a week away as LSU will face Eastern Kentucky in the PMAC next Monday. The Tigers have their second of two appearances at home against LSU-Alexandria on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Kim Mulkey begins her fourth season at LSU. In addition to Johnson, Morrow and Williams, LSU returns Last-Tear Poa and Sa'Myah Smith, both of whom also have starting experience at LSU. The Tigers also brought in four transfers in Shayeann Day-Wilson, Kailyn Gilbert, Mjracle Sheppard and Jersey Wolfenbarger.

Johnson enters her junior season at LSU as one of the league's top returning guards. She is coming off a sophomore season in which she averaged 14.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game to earn a spot on the Second Team All-SEC. Johnson elevated her play during the 2024 NCAA Tournament, averaging 20.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in four games as LSU reached the Elite Eight. Johnson, the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year, played a crucial role as a starter on LSU's first national championship team.

Senior Aneesah Morrow enters her second season at LSU after averaging a double-double of 16.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game last season, earning a spot on First Team All-SEC. Her 21 double-doubles last year ranked fifth nationally. Not only does Morrow score and rebound, her defensive prowess also allowed her to record 93 steals over the course of the season, which is the third-most in program history. Morrow, a Chicago native who previously played in her hometown at DePaul, enters the season ranked in the top five nationally in career scoring (2,178 points) and rebounding (1,229 rebounds) among active players. Morrow will return to Chicago on Dec. 19 as LSU is scheduled to play at Illinois-Chicago so she can play in front of her hometown fans.

Williams is the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year as she returns to North Louisiana. Williams put together one of the best freshman seasons in LSU history last year, averaging 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, becoming just the fifth LSU player to do so in program history Finished in the top 10 in points and assists by a freshman. She scored more than 20 points in seven games, including a 42-point performance against Kent State, the most ever by an LSU freshman in the NCAA era.

*LSU press release