LSU star Flau’jae Johnson gears up for final NCAA tournament run
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Flau’jae Johnson’s career stands out not only for his achievements on the field, but also for his defiance of the transfer-heavy environment of the modern NIL era in college sports.
More than four years ago, Johnson decided to attend LSU. Fast forward to 2026, and he never left the school he first enrolled in. His ties to the Southeastern Conference powerhouse run so deep that he buried his beloved pet, a bearded dragon named Four in homage to his jersey number, on the Baton Rouge campus.
On Friday, Johnson will play for the Tigers for the last time as he wraps up his prolific college basketball career.
But when LSU tips off against 15th-seeded Jacksonville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Johnson’s other bearded dragon, Champion, will be with him, at least in spirit.
CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM
Flau’jae Johnson and the LSU Tigers play the Tennessee Lady Vols at the Pete Maravich Convention Center on February 26, 2026 in Baton Rouge, La. (Scott Clause/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Most of Johnson’s teammates would probably prefer to stay away from the creep. However, LSU guard Izzy Besselman, a close friend of Johnson, was tricked into opening a basket that he thought was empty but contained a bearded dragon.
Johnson is considering bringing Champ to the gym for training sessions and noted that some of his teammates bring their dogs with them.
LSU STAR FLAU’JAE JOHNSON SAYS THE UNRIVELABLE LEAGUE ‘CHANGED THE GAME’ WHEN JOINING THE NIL PARTNERSHIP
However, with his final run on the horizon, Johnson said he is embracing the challenge ahead of him, no matter how far LSU advances.
“March is always a good month,” he told reporters during the SEC Tournament. “I love March. The problem is that’s when everyone is most focused and you just have to rely on your work.”
Johnson, who is also a recording artist and signed to Roc Nation, has a morning routine that includes watching game film with his coach and attending practices outside of team practices. Many brands have also partnered with Johnson, and Johnson takes his time to fulfill his commitments on these deals.
Besselman noted Johnson’s ability to bring out the best in his teammates.
“Seeing how hard he works motivates me and everyone in this locker room,” Besselman said. Yahoo Sports. “He is a good person to emulate.”
Flau’jae Johnson of the LSU Tigers in action against the Tulane Green Wave at the Pete Maravich Convention Center in Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 20, 2024. (Reagan Cotten/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)
Johnson’s coach, Kim Mulkey, is known for his “tough love” approach, a style that paid off with three national championships at Baylor and one at LSU. Johnson said Mulkey helped make him more efficient and ultimately a better player.
“It might be easier to go into the transfer portal and go to a team that has a bad record and averages 30 points,” Johnson said. “I could do that. I did that in high school. You know what I mean? College is no different.
“But I want to play with All-Americans. I want to play with a strong coach who has won a championship. I want to play with people, so I can learn how to be efficient. I want to play positions that aren’t right for me and still come out on top. More importantly to me, I like to do difficult things.”
LSU Tigers women’s basketball player Flau’jae Johnson speaks at the “Money Game” world premiere at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on September 4, 2024 in Baton Rouge, La. (LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)
Johnson is on track to compete in Unrivaled as soon as next year after signing an NIL deal with the women’s 3v3 league.
Mulkey said he believes Johnson is one of the best athletes to play at LSU, in part because of his philanthropy but also because of what he has done for the direction of the program.
CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“He took a chance at LSU while having to sell what?” Mulkey said on the final night. “We just got here and he was the first McDonald’s All-American I signed at LSU. The story about Flau’jae is going to be all of the things I just mentioned, but the biggest story for me is that he stayed at LSU for four years and is going to graduate.”
“When you think about college athletics now, people don’t do that anymore. He loves LSU, too, and LSU embraced him and loved him in return.”
LSU earned the No. 2 seed in this year’s women’s basketball League I tournament. The Tigers will play in the Sacramento region.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports streaming on Xand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
