Bella Hines made the trip from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Baton Rouge for LSU’s first two NCAA Tournament games at the PMAC.
Once she started experiencing her visit, she knew she was at home.
“Honestly, I knew as soon as I went on the visit that was the place I wanted to play for,” Hines said. “And just the coaching staff, too. Everything about that place felt like home, felt like a second home to me.”
Hines is a 5-foot-9 guard from Eldorado High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to ESPN’s HoopGurlz Super 60, Hines is ranked as the No. 22 recruit in the country. She committed to LSU on April 2.
The five-star recruit had her fair share of options to play college basketball. On March 17, Hines announced her Top 10 schools in LSU, Iowa, Baylor, Arizona, Florida State, Texas Tech, NC State, West Virginia, TCU and Kansas State.
But something about LSU always intrigued her. Between the vibrant personalities and the strong coaching staff, Hines decided to make the visit to Baton Rouge.
From the start of the weekend, Hines connected with assistant coach Gary Redus II and sophomore guard Flau’jae Johnson at the team’s pregame meal. Hines and Johnson immediately hit it off, talking about Johnson’s music and more.
“Just being able to actually gauge her personality not just through a TV screen, it was super different,” Johnson 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.”
Hines also got to speak with Angel Reese and was able to get her thoughts on LSU.
“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.
But when it was time for the Tigers to take the floor for the NCAA Tournament, Hines got to see the Tiger faithful in action. The packed Pete Maravich Assembly Center was certainly something she had never seen before of a college basketball atmosphere.
The fans made Hines and her family feel welcomed, encouraging her to come to LSU because it’s a program they knew she would want to be a part of. Seeing that before she committed was important to her.
“The atmosphere in the PMAC is just crazy. It’s definitely something I’ve never seen before,” Hines said. “Everyone is so supportive of girl’s basketball, and before I even committed, everyone was telling me, ‘Oh, come to LSU. This is the place you want to be.’ I just felt so welcomed by all the fans, the coaches, the players, it’s just a great atmosphere and the place I want to play at.”
After the team finished its games, Hines joined the coaching staff in a postgame meal, where they ate crawfish, crab legs and lobster. Her and Kim Mulkey were able to have an in-depth conversation, where Mulkey got to know her better. The two even made a Tik Tok together, where Mulkey showed her how to properly do “the griddy.”
“She was cracking jokes the whole time, saying her griddy was better than mine,” Hines 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.”
Along with Mulkey, Hines’ relationship with Redus is significant. Hines says he is supportive of her and almost plays the role of a friend as much as a coach.
“Ever since I met Coach G, he’s always been super cool, super supportive. He’s honestly one of my biggest hype men,” Hines said. “It’s just super cool to be recruited by him, and he’s a huge part of the reason why I committed, just because of how close our relationship is.”
With everything LSU had to offer, between the coaches, players, fans and the overall atmosphere, Hines knew this is where she wanted to play college basketball. After she took part in a recruiting photoshoot, where she got to where an LSU uniform, Hines committed to LSU.
For her, her family and even the coaching staff, it was an emotional moment.
“It just felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I had so many offers, and I had options, but being able to know that LSU is my new home, it was honestly the best feeling ever. I shed a little bit of tears; I think everybody did, even Coach Daph [Daphne Mitchell] did,” Hines said.
Hines makes the only commitment thus far in LSU’s Class of 2025, but she’s a player and competitor the team will need years down the line.
Between her playstyle and her energy, she’s a type of player that LSU is used to seeing in its women’s basketball program. This past season, Hines scored her 2,000th career point at Eldorado High School.
To Mulkey, Redus and the rest of the coaching staff, they see her fitting right into their schemes and in their program.
“I would say they’re definitely getting a goofy, super outgoing person. And I love the competitiveness,” Hines said. “I feel like my energy matches Flau’jae and Angel’s just perfect. So that’s definitely a huge part. I come with the energy, and honestly, I’m just ready to compete. So, we’ll definitely be winning another natty when I get there.”
As Hines already hopes for a national championship at LSU, she felt LSU was a place not only where she can accomplish that but gain lots of recognition along the way.
LSU was one of the most watched women’s college basketball teams this past season, as its Elite 8 matchup with Iowa averaged 12.3 million viewers. That partnered with the large fanbase was the perfect match for Hines, allowing her to play on the biggest stages with the brightest lights.
“I want to go somewhere where we’re watched, and we have a huge fanbase. So, I feel like LSU was the perfect fit for that,” Hines said. “And I want to play on the big stage. I don’t want to be hidden or be the team that’s the “sneak” team. I want to go in and fill in the shoes that Angel and they have left behind. I’m ready to just go in and fill those shoes.”
Before she gets to LSU, however, Hines has both her final season of AAU basketball and her senior season at Eldorado. Mulkey, Redus, and Coach Daphne Mitchell all plan to see her in action in her AAU team’s opening Nike event in Hampton, Virginia.
Hines looks to make memories during her final seasons of basketball before coming to LSU. And while getting to LSU is a time she looks forward to, she’s glad that she gets to experience the milestones before that with LSU’s coaching staff by her side through it all.
