LSU Kim Mulkey’s Recruiting Approach that failed on GG Banks.
LSU made a serious run at five-star point guard GG Banks, and Kim Mulkey’s staff pushed hard for a month. They finished just short, as Banks picked South Carolina. At one point LSU and Mulkey were viewed as the favorite.
The LSU Pitch
The official visit. Banks and fellow five-star Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka took official visits to Baton Rouge from Sept. 4-6, joining LSU commit Caroline Bradley on a big sports weekend that included Lane Kiffin’s football debut. The staff rolled out star power for the stay.
The Flau’jae connection. Banks and Johnson had a real bond before the visit. Banks called her “like a big sister to me” and said she texts her whenever she wants. Banks starred for Team Flau’jae at an Overtime Select event, with 25 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Fulwiley angle. Milaysia Fulwiley, former Gamecocks who transferred to LSU, was asked, in a random video if she could recruit any player to LSU who would she pick? Fulwilay replied GG.. The pairing makes sense as a pitch, since Fulwiley left South Carolina after never fully being given the keys and signed with LSU.
Why South Carolina Won
- A long-held dream. Banks called South Carolina her “dream school” in 2023.
- Relationship over spectacle. She told ESPN “From my first time meeting Dawn, to Coach Jo and the staff making me feel right at home, I knew this was where I belonged.”
- What she said she wanted. She told CBS in August she wanted “somewhere where a coach will allow me to make mistakes, not change who I am, but definitely develop my game.”
- The role. ESPN notes she could take the keys to a high-octane team.
Analysis: LSU’s strongest card was celebrity and familiarity, while Staley’s was the honest, development-focused message Banks said she wanted. In that comparison, the relationship pitch won.
Any Comments From Mulkey or Players?
For now no public comment from Mulkey, Fulwiley or other LSU players about Banks’s commitment. The closest reporting is that Caroline Bradley remains LSU’s lone 2027 commitment, and the staff’s attention turns to finding another piece. Reports show LSU is also pursuing Zaniya Johnson and Madi Mignery after official visits.
Key Takeaways
- LSU was a real contender, with a month-long push and a star-powered visit.
- Banks wanted a particular kind of coaching, which South Carolina offered.
- No reactions from Mulkey or LSU players turned up.
Conclusion
LSU did nearly everything a program can do, but recruiting is often decided by trust rather than spectacle. Mulkey now has to turn her attention to Johnson and others, while Staley adds the point guard her roster needed.
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