LSU star Flau’jae Johnson is gearing up for a run to the final NCAA tournament

Flau’jae Johnson’s career stands out not only for his accomplishments on the court but also for defying the tough transfer landscape of the modern NIL era in college sports.

More than four years ago, Johnson committed to LSU. Fast forward to 2026, and he never left the school he first enrolled in. His ties to the Southeastern Conference powerhouse ran so deep that he buried his beloved pet, a bearded dragon named Four in a nod to his jersey number, on the Baton Rouge campus.

On Friday, Johnson will take the court for the last time in a Tigers jersey as he ends his college basketball career.

But when LSU upends 15th-seeded Jacksonville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Johnson’s other bearded dragon, Champ, will be with him — in the air at least.

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Most of Johnson’s teammates would like to avoid this reptile. But LSU guard Izzy Besselman, Johnson’s best friend, was tricked into opening a basket he thought was empty but actually contained a bearded dragon.

Johnson considers bringing Champ to the gym for a workout, noting that some of his teammates bring their dogs.

LSU STAR FLAU’JAE JOHNSON SAYS ‘GAME-CHANGER’ THE LEAGUE HAS ‘CHANGERED THE GAME’ AS HE LOOKS AT NIL PARTNERSHIP.

Still, as he prepares to make his final run, Johnson said he welcomes the challenge ahead, no matter how far LSU advances.

“March is always a good month,” he told reporters during the SEC tournament. “I love March. The thing is, this is the time when everyone is very focused, and you have to trust your work.”

Johnson, who is also a recording artist and signed to Roc Nation, has a morning routine that includes watching game film with his coach and fitness workouts outside of team practices. Several brands have also partnered with Johnson, and he is taking time to fulfill the obligations associated with those agreements.

Besselman noted Johnson’s ability to bring out the best in his teammates.

“Seeing how hard he works motivates me and everybody in this locker room,” Besselman told Yahoo Sports. “He’s a great guy to watch.”

Flau’jae Johnson of the LSU Tigers against the Tulane Green Wave at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 20, 2024. (Photos by Reagan Cotten/LSU/University via Getty Images)

Johnson’s coach, Kim Mulkey, is known for “tough love,” a style that has produced results with three national titles at Baylor and one at LSU. Johnson said Mulkey helped him become a more efficient and better player.

“It would be easy to enter the transfer portal, go to a team with a bad record and a 30 rating,” Johnson said. “I can do that. I did it in high school. You know what I’m saying? College isn’t much different.

“But I want to play with All-Americans. I want to play with a strong coach who won titles. I want to play with people to learn how to work well. I want to play in positions where I don’t get paid and continue to excel. For me, it’s big, I like to do hard things.”

LSU Tigers women’s basketball player Flau’jae Johnson speaks during the world premiere of “The Money Game” at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Sept. 4, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (LSU Athletics/University Photos via Getty Images)

Johnson is set to join Unrivaled as soon as next year after signing a NIL deal with the women’s 3-on-3 league.

Mulkey said he believes Johnson is one of the best athletes to ever play at LSU in part because of his passion, but also because of what he did for the foundation of the program.

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“He got an opportunity at LSU when we have to sell for what?” Mulkey said on the big night. “We just got here, and he was the first McDonald’s All-American to sign at LSU. The story in Flau’jae will be all of those things I just listed, but the biggest story to me is that he stayed four years at LSU and will graduate.

“When you think about college athletics now, people don’t anymore. And he loves LSU, and, in return, LSU surprised and loved him back.”

LSU received the No. 2 seed in this year’s women’s basketball tournament in Division I. The Tigers will play in the Sacramento regional.

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