LSU's Flau'jae Johnson nears end of college career, defying transfer trends in NIL era

Flau'jae Johnson, a guard for the Louisiana State University Tigers women's basketball team, has remained with the program throughout her college career after committing on November 14, 2021.^[1][2] The Savannah, Georgia native, who wears jersey number 4, has stayed loyal to the Southeastern Conference school amid the frequent player movement enabled by the transfer portal and name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities.

Johnson's connection to LSU runs deep; she buried her bearded dragon named Four—named after her jersey number—on the Baton Rouge campus. Her other bearded dragon, Champ, has become a team mascot of sorts, with Johnson pranking teammate guard Izzy Besselman by hiding it in a basket. Johnson has considered bringing Champ to practices, similar to teammates who bring dogs.

Ahead of the postseason, Johnson expressed enthusiasm for March basketball. "March is always a good month," she said during the SEC Tournament. "I love March. The thing is, this is when everyone’s the most focused, and you just got to rely on your work."

The 5-foot-10 guard balances basketball with her music career, having signed with Roc Nation in 2023.^[3] She also has NIL partnerships, including with the Unrivaled women's 3-on-3 league, and maintains a routine of film study, workouts and brand commitments.

Teammate Besselman praised Johnson's work ethic: "Seeing how hard she works motivates me and everybody else in this locker room. It's a good person to look up to."

LSU coach Kim Mulkey, who won NCAA titles at Baylor in 2012 and LSU in 2023,^[4] highlighted Johnson's commitment on senior night. "She took a chance on LSU... She was the first McDonald’s All-American that I signed at LSU... The greatest story of all to me is she stayed four years at LSU and will graduate."

Johnson credited Mulkey's coaching for her development, preferring to compete against top talent rather than transfer for easier stats. She also noted her philanthropy and contributions to the program.