Former LSU guard Eric Gaines announces transfer to Conference USA program
Eric Gaines was among the mass exodus of LSU players who made the decision to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, and now he’s found a new home. A 6-foot-2 guard, Gaines has transferred to Conference USA program UAB, the program officially announced Tuesday afternoon. Gaines also posted the news on his Twitter account.
“I am very excited to announce that I will be committing to the University of Alabama Birmingham!,” Gaines wrote. “Ready to get started, & Ready To Rock ‘111’.”
Gaines – a former On3 Consensus four-star recruit – played a solid role for the Tigers last season, averaging nine points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game on 39.1% shooting. Gaines’ best game of the season came in a win over Texas A&M on Jan. 26, as he scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists. He also tallied four steals in that outing.
A Lithonia, Georgia native, Gaines held scholarship offers from a number of programs coming out of high school before choosing LSU – including from Alabama, Houston, TCU and Nebraska, among many others.
Gaines joins a UAB team that went 27-8 overall in 2021-2022, captured the Conference USA championship and lost to Houston in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Led by Andy Kennedy, the Blazers are excited to have Gaines in Birmingham.
“We are excited to have Eric join our program,” Kennedy said in a statement. “He will bring elite athleticism, play-making ability and game-changing defense to our backcourt. His ability to make plays on both sides of the ball will immediately impact Blazer Basketball.”
LSU basketball forward Mwani Wilkinson has change of heart regarding transfer decision
New LSU head coach Matt McMahon got another major transfer portal victory on Tuesday. Mwani Wilkinson is coming back.
Wilkinson has withdrawn his name from the portal and will return to the Tigers, On3’s Matt Zenitz has learned. He started 30 of the 34 games in 2021-22 for the Tigers under Will Wade and entered the portal on April 1. At the time, he was the 11th Tiger to test the transfer waters.
Wilkinson averaged 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game for LSU in 2021-22 and helped the Tigers to an NCAA Tournament appearance.