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In year one of the Johnny Jones era, the LSU men’s basketball team won 19 games and turned down an invitation to play in postseason play.
In year two, the Tigers upped their win total to 20 and advanced to the NIT, winning a game while year.
In year three, the goal is clear: It’s NCAA Tournament or bust.
The LSU men’s basketball team unveiled its new players to the media this week – a talented batch of standouts that have fans excited about the future of the program.
Led by 7-foot freshman center Elbert Robinson III and transfer guards Keith Hornsby and Josh Gray, the new LSU players tout that the new season will mark an exciting time for LSU this coming fall.
“That’s the motivation that we all have,” Gray said when asked if the team’s goal was to reach the NCAA Tournament. “We work hard every day and give 110 percent. We’re building chemistry off the court so we can be in a position to get to the NCAAs.”
Robinson, Hornsby and Gray are all expected to be contributing players for LSU in the fall.
A mammoth 7-footer out of Garland, Texas, Robinson lands with LSU after an esteemed high school career.
Robinson was a 4-star prospect by most recruiting services, but would have been higher if he had a better frame. The center was above 300 pounds for a lot of his high school career, but is currently down below 290 and counting.
“I’ve actually lost some weight and am down to 288 pounds,” he said. “I want to get down to 275-280 when practice begins (in October). I’ve been working hard with our strength and conditioning coach running, lifting weight and eating right.”
Robinson is the bulk of the new class, but Hornsby and Gray are the marksmen.
Hornsby lands at LSU after two seasons with UNC-Asheville. HE averaged 15.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as a sophomore in 2012-13 before transferring to LSU and sitting out last season.
Like Hornsby, Grey is also a junior. He averaged a ridiculous 34.7 points per game at Odessa Community College in Texas last season, while also dishing out 5.9 assists per game.
Hornsby is the elder statesman of the group, having been with the team since last season. He explained his own game, while sharing light on his fellow scoring guard.
“I feel I’m just another guy who can make plays and make things happen for my teammates, as well as bring another scoring threat to us out there on the court,” Hornsby said of his skills.
Of Grey, he added, “He has eyes in the back of his head, and he has great court vision, too. Expect a lot of great plays and some flashy plays, too. He’ll make plays that get the job done. I feel like he’s perfect for that.”
In addition to the 7-footer and the transfer guards, freshman guard Jalyn Patterson and freshman forwards Brian Bridgewater and Aaron Epps will make their debuts in the fall for the Tigers.
Bridgewater is a former Top 28 MVP, while at Scotlandville in Baton Rouge where he won a state title. Patterson also took home a title while at Montverde Academy in Georgia.
Epps was a three-time All-District selection at Tioga High School in Ball.
The Tigers will unveil their 2014-15 schedule in the coming weeks.
