When MiLaysia Fulwiley entered collegiate basketball, she wasn’t just another recruit. She was a walking highlight reel with a flair for no-look passes that brought instant energy to the team. She made games so poetic that even opponents paused. As Dawn Staley put it best, “She sees things out there that no one else sees…. So, she’s got to train people to play with her,” she told On on March 25. So, when news broke that she was leaving Dawn Staley’s USC dynasty, it was pure shock.

Fulwiley entered the transfer portal on April 17. Over the next eight days, she reflected on her decision and then committed to LSU without even visiting the school. And it made sense since she was already quite familiar with the program. She had even helped the Gamecocks beat the Tigers three times. But, again, the question remains. Why leave USC for LSU, right?

Speaking with reporters on October 16, Fulwiley finally spilled the beans. “I mean, a lot of people ask me why LSU, and I’m like, why not? They’re a great program. Kim, she’s a great coach, and everyone around her, Simone, Gee, Kaitlyn, all of the assistant coaches, they just help me so much,” she said.

She added, “And when I was talking to them, I realized that’s what I need. I need a group of people that believe in me and just want to see me do better, because I just want it better for myself. I can get better,  I know I can get better in certain areas on the court – and I just kind of told myself, now is the time to make that change and want to do better for myself.”

As a hometown hero from South Carolina, Fulwiley carried the pride of a city. Her former head coach believed in her too, calling her a “generational talent.” In return, the SEC Sixth Player of the Year backed it up with style. She injected life into the program with head-turning feats of athleticism. Her playmaking abilities and finishes on fast breaks sparked the team, too. But beyond the highlights, Fulwiley’s minutes were carefully measured.

Staley, a defensive-minded coach with championship instincts, preached both discipline and structure. So, Fulwiley’s rotations were built on system play and trust in execution, not improvisation. That’s why, as a part of the Gamecocks’ highest-scoring bench, she came off the bench for 73 games while starting just three throughout her career. But at LSU, that might not be the case.

While she hasn’t played a game for the team yet, she’s already an important player on the roster. She brings the same energy and athleticism that made her so popular on Dawn Staley’s squad, and now she’s also embracing point guard responsibilities.

At LSU, she will be a starter alongside veterans Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams. “She’s been everything we wanted and then some,” LSU associate head coach Bob Starkey told CBS Sports. “She was a kid that we didn’t know much about other than the fact that when we played South Carolina, she torched us. But she’s just such a special person, not just a player.” Special, she really is.

Averaging 11.7 points per game with the Gamecocks, Fulwiley had already started carving her legacy. She’s now watching film with Starkey to improve her game – and guess what, she’s got a teammate motivator too.

Flau’jae and Fulwiley are a new bond in the making!

Think about convincing a kid to leave her hometown. For Mulkey, it was tough to persuade Fulwiley to commit to LSU, but it was Flau’jae Johnson who made the difference. After all, she had known Fulwiley since their high school days. The two even played against each other in front of a sellout crowd during a 2022 showcase event.

But this time, it was a bit different. It was her former opponent, Johnson, who welcomed her to the Tigers’ fold. “We gelled a lot. She has talked me through a lot of things. She is very unselfish. She has taken me under her wing,” Fulwiley said.

“Her instincts – she just makes us quicker, faster, and her mindset is great. She’s eager to learn, and that’s the best part about playing with her,” Johnson added. But the game Johnson once saw as an opponent won’t be the same anymore. That’s because Fulwiley’s role at LSU will be different. She’ll be playing more minutes as a point guard,  and it’s going to be hard, too.

So, while the LSU standout asked for a change, will she be able to adapt to it? Stay tuned to know!