Paul Biancardi
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Paul Biancardi
Basketball Recruiting
- National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com
- 18 years of coaching experience at Division I level
- Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State
Multiple Authors
Five-star guard King Gibson committed to the LSU Tigers, he told ESPN on Sunday, giving Will Wade his first five-star recruit since returning to Baton Rouge last spring.
Gibson chose the Tigers over a final four that also included Arkansas, Louisville and Providence.
“They have a rich culture,” Gibson told ESPN. “I see how much Coach Wade loves the city and how much the community loves him. The love between Coach Wade and the community is strong.”
Gibson, a North Carolina native who attends SPIRE Academy (Ohio), took his official visit to see Wade and LSU late last month.
“We have been building our relationship for a while. He was recruiting me at NC State,” Gibson said of his future head coach. “He is a great coach, and I like their system. He listens to his assistants, too. They work together. He communicates well with his players. I spoke to some of the players on the team. They trust him, and they love him. Coach Wade has a big personality. He definitely likes to joke around off the court.”
“He and Coach [Kevin] Boyle hold their players accountable,” Gibson added, comparing Wade to his legendary high school coach at SPIRE. “They both yell, but you know where it’s coming from.”
Ranked No. 13 in the SC Next 100 for the class of 2027, Gibson is the No. 2 shooting guard in the country. He averaged 16.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 15 games with Team United last spring and summer, shooting 39.4% from 3, after posting 14.6 points and 4.2 assists with SPIRE on the Nike Scholastic circuit last winter.
Gibson is an athletic guard who first made his name on defense. A bigger guard at around 6-foot-5, he can keep the ball out of the paint as a defender as well as contest shots and rebound. On offense, his 3-point shooting has improved to go along with smart shot selection. Gibson is expected to be one of LSU’s best perimeter defenders right away.
“I plan on coming in not only to help on the court but also to try to be a leader,” Gibson said. “I’m not afraid to speak up and be vocal.”
Gibson is the second 2027 commitment for Wade and LSU, joining No. 20 Ahmad Hudson, a two-sport star who picked the Tigers in May.
