In April last year, Bella Hines, a top 25 recruit in the class of 2025, committed to Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers. Over the last few years, Hines has emerged as one of the best talents in the country. And her talent is being acknowledged and rewarded.
In November, Hines signed an NIL deal with the Jordan brand. She was convinced to come on board by Michael Jordan’s daughter, Jasmine M. Jordan. With that, she became the first high school athlete to sign a deal with the Jordan brand.
During a recent conversation with CBS Sports, Hines detailed her process of signing the deal. She said:
“She just made me realize they care more about you as a person than as a player. They’re just a very family-oriented brand. So, I just wanted to become a part of that family.”
Even though MJ’s daughter is no longer involved in the NIL branch of the company, she still maintains a close relationship with Hines.
“She’s super cool, very outgoing, very sweet person in general. She’s not on the NIL part of it anymore, but we still have regular conversations. She’s still always there for me, so I really appreciate that,” Hines said about her relationship with Jasmine.
It wasn’t only the companies that had lined up for the incoming LSU freshman. She had plenty of offers on the table from different college programs, including NC State, TCU, Baylor, West Virginia, and Iowa. But she had her sights set on LSU, and it had a lot to do with Mulkey’s coaching and the impact Angel Reese made during her time at Baton Rouge.
Bella Hines Shares Why She Chose LSU
For someone who wasn’t even interested in basketball from the beginning, getting offers from multiple programs was a big deal. Hines started her journey in sports with baseball. However, she didn’t want to transition into softball, so she decided to pursue basketball.
When the offers started pouring in, LSU seemed like the best option for her. She said:
“I liked watching Angel (Reese) play. She’s just had that dog mentality. So I liked watching her, especially when they played like, Iowa, South Carolina. I love watching those games. But the team overall is just so good, and I like to see how coach (Kim) Mulkey coaches. I’ve been watching her since Baylor.”
LSU freshman Bella Hines is inspired by Kobe Bryant’s mentality, and is trying to model her game after Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. pic.twitter.com/PqBlYRtR8g
— Isabel Gonzalez (@cisabelg) August 1, 2025
As for her inspiration in the sport, Hines was inspired by the late, great Kobe Bryant. The mentality of the Lakers legend has left a lasting impact on her mind, and like many others, she wishes to be like him in the sport one day.
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