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The LSU Tigers had a lot of long shots on board for Will Wade's first season back in charge, and it looks like at least one of them is going to fall through.
Though he isn't completely ruling it out, college basketball insider Jeff Goodman reported on Wednesday that "indications are" Israeli professional basketball player Yam Madar will no longer be coming to Baton Rouge to play for Wade.
Madar was always going to be the longest shot to actually get to campus, and many had already assumed it wouldn't work out, so this isn't too shocking of news.
Wade and his staff might as well try, though, because it is always a bit of a gray area.
He is a 25-year-old professional who is going to be 26 years old in December.
Even in today's NIL-forward college basketball world, that seems like a bit of a stretch.
Had he gotten to campus, and potentially, he would have made a major impact on the roster.
Madar was a second-round pick in the 2020 NBA draft.
He's won championships in three different leagues and was on the All-Israeli League Second Team back in 202`1.
All of these are reasons why he probably won't be eligible, but are also why the Tigers wanted him.
Having someone with that much experience run the offense would be invaluable.
Now it looks like their least experienced starter will be at point guard in Divine Ugochukwu.
He's been in college for two seasons and has only started a little over half of his games.
He has averaged 5.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per nights over the start of his career.