**Breaking News: Nation’s No. 1 Player Clara Strack Commits to LSU Basketball Over Kentucky, South Carolina, UConn, and Tennessee**
In one of the most seismic recruiting moments in recent women’s college basketball history, Clara Strack — the consensus No. 1 player in the 2026 recruiting class and one of the most dominant prospects the sport has seen in years — has officially committed to Louisiana State University. The 6’5″ center from Buffalo, New York, made the announcement today, January 11, 2026, choosing the purple and gold of LSU over a star-studded final list that included Kentucky, South Carolina, UConn, and Tennessee.
The decision caps off one of the most closely watched recruitment sagas in recent memory. Strack, who had previously been heavily linked to Kentucky after a breakout sophomore season with the Wildcats, ultimately elected to join Kim Mulkey’s powerhouse program in Baton Rouge, giving LSU what many analysts are already calling the final piece needed for another national title run.
Strack exploded onto the national scene during her time at Hamburg High School, where she was a four-time All-Western New York selection and the 2025 New York Gatorade Player of the Year. She averaged 25.1 points, 17.3 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, and 3.0 steals per game as a senior, leading her team to a state championship while setting numerous Section VI and state records along the way.
After initially committing to Virginia Tech out of high school, Strack transferred to Kentucky ahead of the 2024-25 season and immediately became one of the most feared interior forces in the SEC. In her sophomore year with the Wildcats, she started every game, posting 15.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.5 blocks, and 1.4 steals per contest. She led the nation in blocks per game for much of the season, shattered Kentucky’s single-season block record, and earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors while being named to the All-SEC First Team.
Her combination of size, length, perimeter skill, passing vision, and defensive instincts has drawn comparisons to a young Brittney Griner crossed with a more skilled version of A’ja Wilson. Scouts have repeatedly called her a “unicorn” — a true point-center who can initiate offense from the top of the key, stretch the floor with a reliable three-point shot, and protect the rim at an elite level.
Multiple recruiting insiders reported that LSU pulled ahead in the final weeks of Strack’s recruitment thanks to several key factors: Kim Mulkey’s unmatched track record of developing bigs into WNBA superstars (including Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and now Hailey Van Lith), the program’s recent national championship pedigree, and the chance to play alongside an already stacked 2025-26 roster that features multiple McDonald’s All-Americans and returning All-SEC talent.
“Clara is special — really special,” Mulkey said in a statement released by the LSU athletic department. “She’s not just tall and athletic. She has guard skills in a 6’5″ frame, elite basketball IQ, and a killer instinct. We believe she has the potential to be one of the greatest to ever play at LSU, and we’re thrilled she’s choosing to write the next chapter of her story here in Baton Rouge.”
The commitment is a massive statement for LSU, which has quickly established itself as the premier destination for elite bigs under Mulkey. With Strack joining forces with a loaded frontcourt and backcourt, the Tigers are now widely viewed as the early favorites for the 2026-27 national championship — and potentially beyond.
Strack’s decision also marks a significant blow to Kentucky, which had been considered the slight favorite in recent weeks. Head coach Kenny Brooks had made Strack a top priority, frequently highlighting her fit in the Wildcats’ motion offense and her leadership on the defensive end. Despite the strong relationship built during her time in Lexington, Strack ultimately opted for a fresh start in a program that has won two of the last three NCAA titles.
Recruiting analysts have already begun to call this the biggest recruiting coup since Angel Reese chose LSU over several other blue-blood programs. Strack’s commitment instantly elevates LSU’s ceiling and further cements the SEC as the most talented and competitive conference in women’s basketball.
“She’s generational,” said one national recruiting expert. “Very few players in the history of the sport have come in with this combination of size, skill, and production at such a young age. LSU just locked up the player who could be the face of the program for the next three to four years.”
As Strack prepares to make the move to Baton Rouge, the college basketball world is already buzzing about what her arrival could mean for the Tigers’ quest for a three-peat and potentially more. With her ability to dominate both ends of the floor, stretch defenses, facilitate for teammates, and anchor the defense, LSU appears poised to remain at the pinnacle of the sport for years to come.
Clara Strack’s commitment to LSU is not just a recruiting win — it’s a program-defining moment. The purple and gold faithful can now dream even bigger.
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