The LSU men’s basketball team suffered a heartbreaking season in 2010-11 on and off the court after struggling to a 3-13 Southeastern Conference record.
But for sophomore guard Aaron Dotson, losing basketball games was minimized by a situation much closer to home.
Dotson’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer during the season, and the Seattle native decided to leave the team in the offseason to be closer to his family.
LSU is now left without the production of a 6.5-points-per-game performer, but his scholarship remains for the taking.
Scout.com five-star center Johnny O’Bryant and three-star guard John Isaac have signed letters of intent and will join the team in the summer.
The NCAA allows 13 scholarships for men’s basketball teams. LSU has 10 players under scholarship before the two incoming freshmen.
The Tigers have room for one more scholarship player, and the backcourt is the thinnest area of the team with only five guards on the roster after the addition of Isaac.
“We need a perimeter player,” said LSU coach Trent Johnson. “When you look at what we have coming back up front and what we lost, obviously, we need a perimeter player.”
More specifically, LSU is lacking depth at point guard. The Tigers will have two true point guards — sophomore Andre Stringer and senior Chris Bass — next season, but it lost another point guard in walk-on Daron Populist, who has scholarship offers from other schools.
Stringer hit some road bumps in his freshman season, committing 82 turnovers and shooting 33 percent from the floor.
But the Jackson, Miss., native averaged 11.2 points a game and started in 30 contests.
“He held up. He was durable,” Johnson said. “Where he needs to improve the most is his ability to distribute the ball in key situations to people at the right time.”
LSU will also get the addition of Iowa State transfer Justin Hamilton, who sat out last season, to give the team depth under the basket.
“With the addition of Justin and Johnny to our base up front, it changes how you play and how physical you want to be,” Johnson said. “Now we can play down low and roll bodies in and guard around the basketball.”
Dave Telep, ESPN senior basketball recruiting analyst, said teams have various methods on getting players during the spring signing period, including the junior college route.
“We’re at the point that it doesn’t matter whether you’re at the JUCO level, out of high school or playing in your rec league — people need bodies,” Telep said.
Point guard Sam Grooms out of Chipola Junior College was on LSU’s radar, but the 6-foot-1-inch recruit committed to Oklahoma on Sunday, according to Rivals.com.
“There’s a talent deficit out there right now,” Telep said. “We had a weak senior class and a ton of guys signing early, so it’s left a void for the spring signing period.”
Junior college guard Dylan Talley was considering LSU and planned to visit this weekend, but Talley committed to Nebraska on Monday night, according to Rivals.com. 
Talley led Blinn Community College with 22.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this past season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Follow Michael Lambert on Twitter @TDR_Lambert.
 
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]