LSU women's basketball has secured a monumental early commitment for its future, landing Caroline Bradley, the No. 3 overall recruit in the girls' SC Next class of 2027. The five-star post player announced her decision Monday, becoming the first player in her class to commit to a Division I program.
Bradley, a Louisiana native from Oak Grove High School, selected the Tigers over an impressive list of finalists that included Alabama, UCLA, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Duke, South Carolina and Texas A&M. Her commitment marks coach Kim Mulkey's first for the 2027-28 season and continues LSU's stronghold on elite in-state talent.
The 6-foot-5 center emphasized that her decision was driven by both competitive aspirations and developmental opportunities. "First and foremost, I want to win. But I also want to be developed and challenged over the course of the next four years," Bradley told ESPN. "Coach Mulkey and the staff have worked to build a great relationship with me and my family, and to prove why Baton Rouge is a special place. The support from the LSU fans is unlike any other and I can't wait to be a part of a family that runs deeper than basketball."
Bradley brings an impressive international resume to LSU. She was a member of last summer's gold-medal-winning USA Basketball U16 FIBA Americas team and recently participated in the USA Basketball Junior National Team Minicamp in Phoenix during the women's Final Four. She is expected to represent the United States again at the U17 FIBA Women's World Cup in July.
Her high school statistics demonstrate her dominance on both ends of the floor. During her junior season at Oak Grove High School, Bradley averaged 27.1 points, 17.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks while shooting over 60% from the field.
Scouting evaluations highlight Bradley's unique combination of traditional post skills and modern versatility. She possesses unmatched strength in the paint with an old-school back-to-the-basket game, yet can also face up and shoot from beyond the three-point line. Defensively, she's considered as technically sound as any post player in recent memory, with a blend of physicality, mobility and skill that makes her a perfect foundational piece for LSU's system.
Bradley's commitment continues a pattern of elite Louisiana prospects choosing to stay home under Mulkey's leadership. Her decision evokes memories of when current LSU assistant Seimone Augustus decided to play for her hometown program in 2002, as well as more recent standout Mikaylah Williams' commitment in 2023.
Since arriving at LSU in April 2021, Mulkey has signed every top-100 player in Louisiana, maintaining the program's reputation as a destination for premier talent. The Tigers had the top-ranked recruiting class in 2025, though they will bring in just one ranked signee—No. 29 Lola Lampley—in 2026.
Bradley's early commitment sets the foundation for what could become another elite recruiting class for LSU as Mulkey continues to build upon the program's national championship pedigree. Her development over the next several years will be closely watched as she prepares to join a program known for its dominant post play and championship expectations.
