LSU signs 16-year-old center Xavier Young for 2027 class
The 6-foot-9 prospect reclassifies to give the Tigers the nation's No. 1 recruiting class, beating out four other major programs.
By Kenji Yamamoto ·
LSU head coach Will Wade now has the No. 1 recruiting class in the country after five-star center Xavier Young committed to the Tigers on Saturday. Young, who turns 16 this March, announced his decision to ESPN and plans to reclassify from the 2028 class to join the 2027 cohort.
The 6-foot-9 center chose LSU over a final list that included Tennessee, Maryland, Michigan, and TCU. Young visited all finalists except TCU in recent weeks. He cited Wade's confidence in his development as a primary factor.
During my visit, Wade sat down with me, went through my game, and told me I have a chance to be an NBA player, Young said. He also noted the energy he felt on campus, including high-fives from fans during a football game against Louisiana Tech. Young met with women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey during his official visit.
Young has already made a mark on the international stage this summer. He helped the U.S. under-17 team win the gold medal at the FIBA U17 Men's World Cup in Istanbul. Over that tournament, he averaged 7.6 points and 3.7 rebounds.
In the spring and summer, Young played for Texas Impact on the UAA circuit. He posted 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 61% from the field across 18 games. Scouts describe him as an efficient low-post presence with strong hand security and effective rebounding skills.
Young becomes the third five-star prospect in LSU's 2027 class. He joins top-15 guards Reese Alston and King Gibson, as well as four-star forward Ahmad Hudson. Alston, the son of former NBA player Rafer Alston, committed to the program on Thursday. Gibson signed earlier this month, and Hudson has been committed since the spring.
I put a lot of trust in Coach Wade, Young said. He has a two-year plan to help me get to the league. Young will be eligible for the NBA draft after spending at least two years in college.
I am excited and can not wait to play with King Gibson and Reese Alston, two of the best guards in the country, Young added.
Source: ESPN
