If anyone thought that the departure of Angel Reese from Baton Rogue would bring Kim Mulkey’s downfall, it seems she found a way to put a sock to that narrative. And, for the passionate LSU supporters, they would have seen it coming the moment they saw a 17-year-old girl from Albuquerque, New Mexico paying a visit at PMAC during March Madness. Following this, speculations and rumors took center stage until on April 2nd, Bella Hines put them to rest by making her commitment to the Lady Tigers official.

Since then, the talk of the town has been if she can fill in the big shoes of the catalyst behind their 2023 national championship glory Angel Reese. While it’s too early to start making comparisons just yet, both players do possess a lot more than what meets the eye. However, Hines does distinguish herself in some regard.

What makes Bella Hines a worthy LSU inclusion?

The answer to this question can be found in the corridors of the Eldorado High School where the 5-foot-9 guard made quite a reputation for herself. She finished her final season ranked 11th nationally while occupying the summit position in Mexico. Her overall average of 32.5 points a game qualifies her as among the country’s leading scorers. On top of these, she crossed another milestone as a junior by crossing the 2,000-point mark.

At the same time, Hines pulled off a total of 974 points last season which according to the New Mexico Activities Association website ranks 3rd in terms of all-time individual scoring. Moreover, LSU also seems to find an answer to the problems faced by them from beyond the arc. As it turns out, Bella Hines is the second-best shooter behind Jordyn Lewis of Ramah from the 3-point range.

To cap it all off, she will be joining the LSU locker room after scoring the most number of points in the history of Albuquerque Public Schools for the girl’s division. Moreover, she is also the all-time leading scorer for the Eagles. As a result, ESPNW presents Hines a 22nd spot in the Class of 2025 rankings which is popularly known as ESPN’s HoopGurlz Super 60. To provide further grounds for her inclusion, Bella Hines has also earned the recognition of being a five-star recruit. Eventually, the cherry on the top moment came for her when she ended her high-school career clinching the 2024 Nike EYBL National Championship.

With such an illustrious resume, it wasn’t an uphill task for LSU to scout her. Anyhow, there were still some specifics on how the procedure really went down.

Hines’ recruitment story

Her accomplishments make her a formidable candidate for any basketball program in the country. Perhaps this is the reason why Hines received offers from Top 10 schools namely LSU, Iowa, Baylor, Arizona, Florida State, Texas Tech, NC State, West Virginia, TCU, and Kansas State. But, her interaction with assistant coach Gary Redus II and the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year Flau’jae Johnson during one of the pregame meals, helped her provide clarity over making her final decision. This is along with the fact that she had no issues while connecting with the sophomore guard on a range of subjects that also included music.

Soon after, Johnson opened up about her meet-up with the latest recruit. She went on and said, “She’s very kind and outgoing. She’s funny. She talks a lot about her music because I actually listen to a few of her songs. She asked me which one I like the most, and it was just good getting to know her”. 

Be that as it may, that was not the only conversation she had. Apparently, she also got a chance to catch up with the Bayou Barbie as well. “A lot of players look up to Angel. And, being able to meet her and have conversations with her was just super cool”, Hines said after speaking to Angel Reese.

Well, all these developments played a significant part in Bella Hines’ association with the 2023 NCAA champs. But, the final role in the dice was still in the hands of the four-time national champion coach.

The crawfish, crab legs, and lobster talk with Kim Mulkey

A recent TikTok of Bella Hines and Kim Mulkey together clearly reflects the bond established between them at the NCAA’s postgame meals. And, after learning how to properly do “the griddy”, it appears that she had no choice but to heap praises on the 63-year-old. She said, “We had a family meeting in her office, and she was just cracking us jokes and making us feel so welcomed. I’m just glad I’ve been able to get recruited by Coach Mulkey”. 

Certainly, a breath of fresh air for the Lady Tigers. The fans will hope that her arrival will result in boosting the contention for a second national title. Only time will tell what the future holds for her as well as the basketball program.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And, join us for the exciting pilot episode of the ‘Dual Threat Show’. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.