Nation’s No. 1 Female Basketball Player Shocks Recruiting World by Choosing LSU Tigers Over Rival Auburn in Monumental Decision
In a stunning development that has rocked the landscape of women’s college basketball, the nation’s No. 1 high school female basketball player, Jayla Montgomery, has announced her commitment to the LSU Tigers, snubbing long-favored Auburn in a move that has taken the recruiting world by storm.
Montgomery, a 6-foot-3 five-star forward out of Atlanta, Georgia, made her decision public during a nationally televised segment on Friday afternoon. Wearing a gold LSU cap, she smiled and simply said, “I’m taking my talents to Baton Rouge.” The announcement sent immediate shockwaves across social media and recruiting circles, where Auburn had been considered the heavy favorite for months.
“This is a monumental get for LSU,” said ESPN’s basketball recruiting analyst Rebecca Lowe. “Jayla Montgomery is a generational talent — strong, fast, with court vision that rivals professionals. For her to choose LSU over a powerhouse like Auburn, especially when the Tigers were seen as outsiders in this race, changes the entire balance of power in the SEC.”
Montgomery has averaged 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists per game during her senior year and is widely viewed as a future WNBA star. She’s known not just for her athleticism, but her leadership and fierce competitiveness — qualities that LSU head coach Kim Mulkey has emphasized as vital to the program’s culture.
“This is about more than basketball,” Montgomery said after the announcement. “LSU believed in me as a person. Coach Mulkey’s vision for the future, her commitment to empowering her players on and off the court — that meant everything to me. I want to win, yes. But I also want to grow.”
The decision is a major blow to Auburn, who had been recruiting Montgomery since her sophomore year and were considered the clear frontrunner. Auburn fans expressed disbelief online, while LSU fans erupted in celebration, with #BayouBrilliance and #JaylaToLSU trending within minutes.
Coach Mulkey responded with excitement on X (formerly Twitter), posting: “The future just got brighter in Baton Rouge. Welcome to the family, Jayla!”
Montgomery’s decision instantly boosts LSU’s 2025 recruiting class to No. 1 in the nation and signals the program’s continued ascent following its recent national championship run.
As the women’s game continues to grow in visibility and influence, Jayla Montgomery’s choice underscores a new era in which elite players are looking beyond traditional powerhouses — and betting on programs that prioritize both performance and purpose.
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