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LSU transfer Angelica Velez has committed to Syracuse, she announced on social media Sunday. The 5-foot-7 guard spent one season with the Tigers before entering the transfer portal. Velez joins Journey Thompson as SU’s second transfer of the offseason.

Thank you God! #HOME #HappyBirthdayMommy pic.twitter.com/PGpRBUTsrn

— Angelica Velez (@AngelicaVelez05) May 5, 2024

Velez was ESPN’s No. 44 recruit in the class of 2023, but she only played 4.9 minutes per game as a freshman. Alongside forward Angel Reese, LSU started four guards — Aneesah Morrow, Mikaylah Williams, Flau’jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith. This buried Velez on the depth chart as she averaged 1.2 points, 0.6 assists and 0.6 rebounds in sparse action.

Following the departures of Kennedi Perkins and Cheyenne McEvans to the transfer portal and Dyaisha Fair to the WNBA, Syracuse needed to add depth to its backcourt. Alongside Shy Hawkins, an incoming four-star recruit, and Madeline Potts, who enrolled early to SU in January, Velez should see significant minutes in her first season with the Orange.

In addition to Hawkins and Potts, Velez joins a backcourt headlined by Georgia Woolley, who is in line to take over as Syracuse’s leading scorer with Fair no longer on the team.

Published on May 5, 2024 at 1:56 pm

Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon