Bella Hines, Jordan Brand Agree to Multiyear NIL Contract; 5-Star Guard Headed to LSU

Bella Hines signed an NIL deal with Jordan Brand as she finishes up her high school basketball career.

"We're excited to have Bella Hines join the Jordan Brand Family. She's a remarkable young talent who is joining an athlete roster that represents greatness for the next generation," a Jordan Brand spokesperson said to Forbes' Mat Issa.

Hines told Issa she was drawn to the company due to its connection to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

The news comes on the same day LSU confirmed the 5'9" guard has signed on to suit up in 2025-26.

Hines is the No. 25 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings.

"Hines is demonstrating that she is a solid option on defense and a potential sniper on offense," 247Sports' Brandon Clay wrote in his scouting report. "She's a well-conditioned guard capable of logging major minutes all week as Cy-Fair played their way to the Nike National title. Hines' willingness to compete on both ends is a plus. Offensively, she is a true floor-spacing threat. Additionally, Hines' ability to guard the opposing team's top threats allowed her classmate Aaliyah Chavez to stay fresh and avoid foul trouble."

Hines joins a loaded class for head coach Kim Mulkey. LSU also landed shooting guard Divine Bourrage (No. 7), small forward ZaKiyah Johnson (No. 9) and power forward Grace Knox (No. 11).

Poaching Mulkey from Baylor was a major coup for the program and her arrival paid immediate dividends. LSU won 26 games in 2021-22 and then captured its first national title in 2023.

Beyond what the Tigers are doing on the court, they have fully embraced the advent of the NIL era. As much as the opportunity to contend for championships was a selling point for Hines, she also watched Angel Reese and Flau'Jae Johnson become major stars in Baton Rouge.

Her Jordan Brand deal is a sign of her popularity already and her commercial profile will only grow once she's donning an LSU uniform.