“We’re still relevant and that’s what I came here to do.”, said Kim Mulkey. These few words speak volumes about her endeavors that have just started with leading the LSU Tigers to their first-ever national championship in 2023. However, with Angel Reese, the top scorer for the Lady Tigers over the past two seasons, now gone, Mulkey is focused on shaping the team for future success. And for that, she has already made significant strides in recruiting for the Class of 2025, even outpacing legendary coaches like Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley in the process.

The LSU Tigers have just welcomed another five-star recruit for the Class of 2025, with ZaKiyah Johnson committing to Coach Mulkey’s roster. With Johnson’s addition, LSU is now the only women’s college basketball team to secure three recruits from the 2025 class, all ranked in the Top 30. The standout from Sacred Heart Academy holds the 13th spot in ESPN’s rankings for the Class of 2025.

However, she isn’t the only five-star recruit joining Coach Mulkey’s impressive 2025 class. The Lady Tigers have also secured Divine Bourrage and Isabella Hines, both top-tier talents. Bourrage, who hails from Iowa, is ranked No. 12, while Hines from New Mexico sits at the 30th spot. As the Lady Tigers prepare for the future with key seniors Last-Tear Poa and Aneesah Morrow likely departing after this season, these recruits are expected to inject fresh energy into the team.

This positions LSU’s future talent on a better footing than the recruitments by Geno Auriemma’s UConn and Dawn Staley’s South Carolina. The Huskies added a couple of recruits, Kelis Fisher and Gandy Malou-Mamel, but only Fisher, a five-star recruit, breaks into the Top 30, while Malou-Mamel ranks 73rd as a four-star recruit. On the other hand, the defending champions, South Carolina, also have just one commitment so far—Ayla McDowell, a five-star recruit ranked No. 22, as per ESPN.

With a significant advantage in recruiting, Coach Mulkey is well on her way to replicating last year’s championship success sooner than expected. Even if she doesn’t secure a title this season, she’ll have a talented roster of elite players ready to pursue that championship dream. Well, the recent addition of ZaKiyah Johnson might be a huge win for LSU’s future as she seems all ready to take the leading role for LSU in the future.

Kim Mulkey’s latest recruitment promises to be a future leader at LSU

The LSU Tigers have added another five-star gem to their roster for the class of 2025, welcoming ZaKiyah Johnson. Despite strong interest from her hometown schools, Louisville and Kentucky, the talented guard ultimately chose LSU as her new home. The 17-year-old shared her excitement in an interview with 247 Sports, highlighting the warm sense of belonging she felt at LSU and the strong bond she formed with Coach Kim Mulkey.

“LSU gave me that ‘home’ feeling. They gave that comfortable warm type of feeling and Coach Mulkey is a very genuine coach. Not to say others weren’t, but I felt the most connected with her,” she told 247 Sports. What makes her commitment even more exciting is her ambition for the future; Johnson is eager to step into a leadership role and make a significant impact on the team.

“I want to come in and have a leadership role. Basketball will handle itself but off the court. I want to be a vocal leader, I want to be able to lead without any words and show what a good basketball player and teammate looks like, I want to be apart of a sisterhood where I can learn from others and they can learn from me,” the Louisville native stated as her aspirations suggest she might be ready to fill the significant shoes left by Reese, who was instrumental in leading LSU over the past two seasons.

A 3x Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky, she earned three All-State selections and three Sweet 16 MVP awards. Johnson also led her team to a 31-7 record and their fourth straight state championship. These accomplishments position her as a promising future standout for LSU, potentially helping Coach Kim Mulkey to outclass powerhouse programs like UConn and South Carolina.