LSU women's basketball commit Bella Hines signs historic NIL deal

Bella Hines, one of the top recruits in the country, announced her commitment to Kim Mulkey's LSU Tigers and signed a historic NIL deal shortly after.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey speaks during SEC Media Day. / Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The LSU women's basketball program had an incredible Wednesday by securing the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for 2025.

For high school basketball star Bella Hines, her commitment also came with other great news.

Shortly after committing to play for Kim Mulkey's Tigers, it was reported that Hines signed a multi-year NIL deal with the Jordan Brand.

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With the deal, Hines becomes the only high school basketball player signed to the Jordan Brand.

BREAKING: Jordan Brand has signed High School star guard Bella Hines to a multi-year NIL shoe deal. 📄✍️

The Class of 2025 standout @SaucyBella2 committed to LSU earlier today, and becomes the only current High School basketball player signed to Jordan. pic.twitter.com/im8meSUd6U

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) November 13, 2024

“We’re excited to have Bella Hines join the Jordan Brand Family. She’s a remarkable young talent who is joining an athlete roster that represents greatness for the next generation,” a Jordan Brand spokesperson told Forbes.

Hines, who grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, grew up idolizing Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Welcome to the family @SaucyBella2 !!!!

You believed in us and our vision when a lot of people stopped!! The OG Baby Tiger!! Big Bayou Bella aka The Saucy One 😎 you deserve this moment!!#GeauxTigers@LSUwbkb pic.twitter.com/yVeUNpjgHi

— Gary Redus (@iGREDUS) November 13, 2024

“I’m a big fan of Kobe Bryant, and he always idolized Michael Jordan. So, I feel like Jordan was a no-brainer for me,” Hines added.

Bella Hines is a five-star recruit who rose to stardom at Eldorado High School and is ranked as the No. 30 player in the country. She left the school in May after three years to finish her prep career with Albuquerque's flagship ABC Prep girls team, which plays in the Grind Session, to play against other highly ranked players from around the country and prepare herself for SEC competition.

She joins a star-studded LSU recruiting class that also includes No. 6-ranked Grave Knock, No. 12 Divine Bourrage, and No. 13 ZaKiyah Johnson.

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