How LSU women's basketball could create a starting lineup for 2023-24 season

Welcoming back one the best players in the country, bringing in the top two transfers from the portal, and signing the top-rated recruiting class for 2023, Kim Mulkey will have an embarrassment of riches for LSU women's basketball's starting lineup next season.

Angel Reese, likely the preseason national player of the year, remains the headliner in Baton Rouge, but the billing now features an even-more star-studded cast than the group that led the Tigers to their first NCAA championship in April.

Point guard Hailey Van Lith from Louisville and forward Aneesah Morrow from DePaul, the No. 1 and 2 ranked transfers, have helped Mulkey reload in replacing Alexis Morris and LaDazhia Williams. Sophomore Flau'jae Johnson, after starting for LSU as a freshman, will have greater expectations in 2023-24.

LSU LANDS ANEESAH MORROW Aneesah Morrow, top transfer forward, commits to Kim Mulkey, LSU women's basketball

HAILEY VAN LITH What transfer Hailey Van Lith will bring to LSU women's basketball in 2023-24

WAY-TOO-EARLY LSU WBB PREDICTIONS LSU women's basketball way-too-early projections for 2023-24 season

To round things out, the second-best high school recruit in MiKaylah Williams, No. 7 Aalyah Del Rosario and two other top-75 recruits in guard Angelica Velez (No. 44) and forward Janae Kent (No. 73) round out women's basketball's top 2023 class for Mulkey and her staff.

The ridiculously deep roster allows Mulkey to have an abundance of options of how she might want her team to play from night to night.

With an excess of lineups possible for the Tigers, let's break down likely combinations, look at their advantages and disadvantages, make a prediction on which five will start for LSU.

Can a freshman crack the starting lineup?

Many lineups roll with three guards and two post players. In this scenario, the only question would be who plays the shooting guard spot? Hailey Van Lith runs your point; Johnson, with her size and rebounding ability, is on the wing; while Reese and Morrow play inside.

Returner Kateri Poole started all six NCAA Tournament games last season and came up big in spots, especially on defense. But it's far more likely that Williams, the freshman with her ability to score, takes the two-guard position.

Advantage: Williams playing the two gives Mulkey another ball handler on the floor. Van Lith can easily lineup at the shooting guard position, but what the freshman brings from an offensive efficiency standpoint would keep defenses honest, especially with Reese inside.

Disadvantage: LSU would be at a size disadvantage against bigger teams like South Carolina with Reese (6-4) and Morrow (6-1). And, of course, coaches never fully know how freshmen will respond in their first year, so there is a risk rolling with Williams.

LSU women's basketball can go big

Morrow is such a good fit for LSU because she's working on her outside game. If successful, it would allow her to play the three-spot. With her there, Mulkey can go Van Lith at point, Johnson at two, Morrow at three, Reese at her more natural four spot and either Sa'Myah Smith or freshman Del Rosario – both are 6-foot-5 – at center.

Advantage: This lineup could provide a defensive boost. If Mulkey wanted, she could have Poole fill the two-spot while there's ability to rotate post defense with Morrow, Reese and another big on the floor simultaneously. If teams go big, the Tigers can counter with size this season.

Disadvantage: A combination like this could leave a little bit on the table in offensive efficiency. Yes, Reese, Van Lith and Morrow can get buckets, but Johnson disappears at times on offense, and Smith or Del Rosario would allow defenders to focus on LSU's top players for double teams.

When Kim Mulkey wants to go with experience

Honestly, the luxury is there. Mulkey could ease Williams, Del Rosario, and even Velez, into their college careers if necessary, thanks to the Tigers' depth and experience. Van Lith, Poole and Johnson could make up the backcourt with Reese and Morrow inside.

Advantage: With Van Lith, Reese and Morrow, there won't be many lineups across women's basketball that'll have that many games started on the court. Add in the total experience of playing in a national championship game, this lineup will have seen just about it all.

Disadvantage: If Mulkey went this route, she would sacrifice some speed and scoring ability, and Reese would be slightly out of her natural position. Teams that can score from the perimeter as part of a solid inside-out game could cause some issues, as that sort of makeup caused LSU fits last season.

Prediction: Kim Mulkey goes conventional

Because of the lineup's ability to score in bunches, Mulkey will decide to start Williams. Her versatility on the perimeter and in the frontcourt presents the most difficult task for opposing teams to stop.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How Kim Mulkey might form LSU women's basketball's starting lineups