BREAKING: LSU Lands Commitment from 5-Star Center Xavier Young Due To Trust in Will Wade’s Two-Year NBA Plan

BATON ROUGE, La. — Will Wade’s remarkable return to LSU has landed its biggest prize yet.

Five-star center Xavier Young, one of the most coveted big men in the country, announced his commitment to LSU on Saturday, choosing the Tigers over Tennessee, Michigan, Maryland, and TCU . The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Dallas native is reclassifying from the 2028 class into 2027, immediately joining a LSU recruiting haul that now ranks No. 1 in the nation .

The commitment is a massive statement for Wade, who returned to Baton Rouge in March after four years away and has wasted little time rebuilding the program into a recruiting juggernaut. Young becomes the third five-star prospect in LSU’s 2027 class, joining guards Reese Alston and King Gibson, along with four-star forward Ahmad Hudson .

Why LSU Won: Trust and a Two-Year Plan

For Young, the decision came down to one fundamental factor: belief. The 16-year-old phenom said Wade and his staff sold him on a vision that few other programs could match.

“It was the trust the whole coaching staff had in me,” Young told 247Sports. “I know I’m coming in young, and still having their absolute trust stood out to me” .

Wade’s pitch was direct and professional. During Young’s official visit, the LSU head coach sat down with the young center, broke down his game in detail, and delivered a message that resonated deeply.

“He told me I have a chance to be an NBA player. He believes in me that much,” Young told ESPN .

The plan is specific: two years at LSU, built around developing the weaknesses in Young’s game—particularly his perimeter skills—while preparing him for the professional ranks. Because Young only turned 16 in March, NBA rules require him to spend at least two seasons in college before he becomes draft-eligible .

“I put a lot of trust in Coach Wade,” Young said. “He has a two-year plan to help me get to the league” .

The Reclassification Decision

Young’s path to LSU was accelerated by a decision made earlier this summer. Originally a member of the 2028 class, he elected to reclassify into 2027 after evaluating what another year of high school basketball could offer versus the development he could gain at the college level.

“What led to the decision for me to reclassify up is how much development I can get in two years of college,” Young told 247Sports. “Going against bigger and stronger competition every day will help me get ready for basketball beyond the collegiate level. The staff’s plan for me is to build around my weaknesses, such as developing a stronger perimeter game, while also using the two years I have with them to become a future lottery pick” .

The move gives LSU a player who, despite his youth, already possesses a college-ready frame and a skill set that projects well at the next level. Young is a powerful low-post presence who finishes with force, rebounds with two hands, and has shown flashes of a face-up game from the free-throw line . His footwork for his age is considered advanced, and he is an effective screen-and-roll target and dribble-handoff operator .

Young’s summer résumé backs up the hype. He helped lead the U.S. under-17 national team to a gold medal at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul, averaging 7.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in a reserve role . On the UAA circuit with Texas Impact, he posted 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 61% from the field over 18 games .

A Class That Changes Everything

Young’s commitment caps a remarkable week for Wade and LSU. Just days earlier, the Tigers landed five-star point guard Reese Alston, and the addition of Young pushed the 2027 class past Houston for the top spot in the national rankings .

The class now features:

• Xavier Young, five-star center, No. 11 overall in the 2028 composite before reclassification

• Reese Alston, five-star point guard, ranked among the top 15 nationally

• King Gibson, five-star guard, another top-15 prospect

• Ahmad Hudson, four-star forward, a top-25 recruit who will also play tight end for the Tigers

Young said the opportunity to play alongside Alston and Gibson was a significant draw.

“I’m excited and can’t wait to play with King Gibson and Reese Alston, two of the best guards in the country,” he said .

For a program that has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2022, the recruiting surge represents a dramatic reversal of fortune. Wade, who went 105-51 with three NCAA tournament appearances in his first stint at LSU from 2017 to 2022, was hired in March after Matt McMahon was fired following a 60-70 record over four seasons . The early returns suggest Wade has lost none of his ability to sell a vision and close on elite talent.

What Young Brings to Baton Rouge

On the floor, Young gives LSU a legitimate anchor in the paint. At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, he is physically ready to compete in the SEC from day one. His game is built on efficiency and force: he establishes deep post position, catches passes in tight spaces, and finishes through contact .

The developmental curve will center on expanding his range and refining his footwork. But the foundation is there for a player who could become one of the conference’s most dominant interior forces by his second season.

Off the floor, Young projects the kind of character that coaches covet. When asked what LSU fans should expect, he kept it simple.

“The program should expect me to be a guy who shows up every day and gives his best effort no matter what the situation is,” Young told 247Sports. “I am a great teammate and a good person to be around” .

The Bigger Picture

For LSU, Young’s commitment is more than a recruiting victory. It is a signal that Wade’s second act in Baton Rouge is built on the same foundation that made his first stint successful: elite talent acquisition and a direct, no-nonsense pitch that resonates with players who aspire to the NBA.

The Tigers now hold the nation’s top 2027 class before the cycle has even fully unfolded. With Young, Alston, Gibson, and Hudson in the fold, LSU has assembled a core capable of competing with anyone in the SEC—and a coaching staff that has proven it can close.

Young had over 30 scholarship offers, including from Texas, Kansas, Houston, Baylor, and Alabama . He chose LSU because Wade made him believe.

The five-star center is coming to Baton Rouge. And he is bringing the No. 1 class in America with him.