Ella Kate Johnston Taking Fast Track to LSU After Record-Setting Prep Career

by Robin Fambrough // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

A plan was already in place for Parkview Baptist soccer star Ella Kate Johnston. She was set to sign with LSU in a few months and enroll in January.

Then, a few weeks ago, another option emerged. Why not now? 

With that mindset, Johnston is reclassifying to the 2026 recruiting class in order to sign in a few days. She will then enroll over the summer and compete for the Tigers in the fall.

“As soon as I heard it (enrolling earlier) was mentioned, I knew I wanted to take that opportunity because it’s something you can’t pass up,” Johnston said. “It’s going to challenge me in so many different ways. I’m honored that LSU thought enough of me as a player to want to do this. I think I am ready to play at the next level of competition.” 

LSU had a roster spot open in its 2026 class following a breakout 2025 fall season, providing a logical fit for Johnston, who will be a midfielder.

Last fall, Johnston finished with 43 goals and 26 assists for a PBS team that finished as the Division III runner-up to Archbishop Hannan. The Eagles won the previous three Division III titles.

A two-time All-Metro small schools MVP, Johnston finishes as the school’s all-time goals leader with 125 goals and 117 assists. 

She was selected as the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year in 2025, is a four-time all-state player, and earned U.S. Soccer Coaches Association All-America honors. Johnston was the MVP of the 2024 title game for PBS and has participated in U.S. Girls Soccer ID camps, one of which was earlier this year.

Johnston’s process of reclassifying to 2026 from 2027 involves a few steps, including moving her NCAA Clearinghouse information from 2027 to 2026 and the completion of one final class, English 4. 

“I heard last week this might happen, and I’m so happy for Ella Kate,” said Raphael Nunes, Johnston’s coach at Parkview. “She’s ready to move on. At age 13, she was playing on my 19-and-under club team and could dominate. She is ready for this, not just because she has played against older players. 

“Ella Kate puts in the work. She comes to school early to lift weights and do speed work. And she’ll do skill work in the afternoon. And the best part is, she is humble. She doesn’t see herself as better than anyone else.”

She is set to become the second family member to play for the Tigers, following in the footsteps of her aunt, PBS assistant coach Kate Ripple Cramer, a former Eagle star who played for LSU from 2003-06.

Johnston said watching the path her older sister, Faith, who enrolled at Kansas in January 2025, to jump-start her own college career.

“What she did showed me how this can be done,” Johnston said. “The experience for her has been really good.

“Instead of enrolling in December to play the next fall, I’ll start training and classes in July and then be ready for this fall. I’m excited about the challenge. And I have about two months before we start.”