Jordan Mickey commitment to LSU basketball gives Tigers nice boost

On Thursday night, the LSU Tigers basketball program got a solid boost with a commitment from the No. 20 power forward on Rivals, Jordan Mickey.

Mickey had narrowed his choices to LSU, SMU, Ohio State and Oklahoma State before choosing the SEC school that his brother plays football for. His brother James Wright is a wide receiver for the Tigers, although Mickey told SNY.tv that it didn't sway his decision too much.

Mickey chose LSU despite his father, James Wright, previously telling SNY.tv that the Tigers are in a rebuilding process while Ohio State and Oklahoma State are built to win right away:

"LSU will be in a rebuilding process," Wright told SNY.tv recently. "You got Johnny Jones there who did a wonderful job at North Texas State. He's looking forward to big things at LSU. He was there earlier in his carer with Dale Brown. We had a couple visits down there and they went really, really well. With his coaching style, Jordan will fit into a more running style of offense. I think coach can really utilize his talents. His older brother also plays football at LSU, so that's another big perk to have the opportunity to go to school with his brother."

Mickey, a 6'9, 220-pound senior at Arlington (Texas) Grace Prep will look to help a Tigers team that finished 7-9 in SEC play during the 2011-12 season. With a loss in the second round of the SEC Tournament to Kentucky, the Tigers did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament and instead went to the NIT Tournament.

They lost in the first round of the NIT, though, to the Oregon Ducks, 96-74.