LSU WBB: Tigers Lose Prized Freshman Guard to the NCAA Transfer Portal

Kim Mulkey and the Tigers lose freshman guard Angelica Velez to the portal, second transfer this offseason.

Mar 24, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Angelica Velez (1) dribbles / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers have their second transfer portal departure this offseason with true freshman guard Angelica Velez set to look for a new home, sources confirm to LSU Country.

The Advocate first reported Velez's intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

The 5-foot-7 guard from the Bronx, New York was a former four-star prospect in the 2023 cycle who played her high school ball with current freshman forward Aalyah Del Rosario.

The package deal, both Velez and Del Rosario were set to carry their high school success to the college scene, but now the coveted guard will look elsewhere to finish her college career.

In her freshman campaign, Velez played in just111 minutes, tallying 27 points on 9-of-27 shooting with 13 assists to 18 turnovers.

It's no secret the LSU roster was loaded with talent during the 2023-24 season after the Tigers brought in America's No. 1 recruiting class headlined by SEC Freshman of the Year Mikaylah Williams and transfers Aneesah Morrow and Hailey Van Lith.

Now, Velez returns to the recruiting scene with a chance to find a new home to see immediate playing time.

“I’ve learned so much from my teammates,” Velez said last September. “Their work ethic is insane. I love basketball, so I’ve always been the type of player that feels like I work hard, but whenever I’m in the gym , they’re there. Whenever I come, they know how to work. Something I learned from them is to go the extra mile. If we’re running, Flau’jae [Johnson] says go to the wall or do an extra rep. She has a different type of mindset and it’s a blessing to learn from her.”

LSU will be in the market for a point guard this offseason with both Van Lith and Velez announcing their intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Van Lith, who will exercise her COVID year to play a fifth season of college basketball, will be looking for a place to play her style of basketball. She believes she is a "pro-type" player and has intentions of boosting her draft stock during the 2024-25 season.

“You have to kind of look at what type of player you are,” Van Lith said. “There’s some people that have to capitalize in college because they’re not a pro-type player. Their likability is going to stay in college. And I think for me, that’s not the case. I’m a pro-type player. The deals will follow, like Angel said. The one downfall is visibility. And the amount of times we play on ESPN and ABC and all these major television channels, that becomes a lot less when you go to the WNBA where it’s at right now. You’re not going to be in the media as much, but from a brand aspect, as long as you do what you need to do and keep up that part of your life, then brands, they’re going to follow you when you go to the league.”

Now, moving forward, LSU will be pushing to add a point guard via the free agency market with a pair of transfers set to visit campus this month.

Read Here: The Latest on LSU's Transfer Portal Search

LSU Country will have the latest on LSU's Transfer Portal process with the offseason ramping up in the coming weeks.

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Country: @LSUCountry_FN for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.