Louisville basketball will be active in the transfer portal. Exploring options for the Cards.
The 2024 transfer portal is officially open, and thanks to Pat Kelsey and the new found energy, the Louisville basketball program has already seen themselves attached to a plethora of players.
All 12 of last year’s scholarship players have hit the portal, with a majority; if not all; expected to find homes elsewhere. Kelsey has brought with him two former Cougars in sharpshooter Reyne Smith and a high-upside freshman, James Scott.
After a commitment from former Sun Belt Player of the Year, Terrence Edwards, Jvonne Hadley, Aly Khalifa, Aboubacar Traore, Koren Johnson, and Chucky Hepburn that leaves this new staff with five scholarship spots to fill, via the transfer portal and late signees in the class of 2024, so let’s take a look at who the Cards have landed and reached out to.
On the radar
Ugonna Onyenso – C, Kentucky
Of all the players on this list, Ugonna Onyenso might be the one player Cards fans know the most, thanks to his two years in Lexington.
Onyenso is an athletic 7-footer with a long wingspan that makes him one of the best shot blockers in college basketball. Last season, the Nigerian born big man averaged 2.8 blocks, in just 18 minutes per game. Onyenso also led the SEC in block rate and was top 15 in both offensive and defensive rebounding.
Unfortunately, Onyenso’s impact on the game is pretty much only on the defensive side of the ball. His athleticism allows him to be a threat for dunks, lobs, and putbacks, but his lack of ball handling and lack of post moves makes almost unusable outside of five feet.
In early April, Onyenso announced he was entering the NBA draft, but a week after declaring for the draft Onyenso announced he would be entering the transfer portal. Louisville was one of the first five schools to reach out.
Last season, Pat Kelsey had a skilled center in his starting lineup, with a more athletic rim protector as the backup, James Scott. Maybe he envisions a similar rotation at Louisville with Onyenso being his defensive-minded big?
It’s interesting to see Louisville reach out, but it looks like he’s likely headed down to Tuscaloosa.
He comes with his limitations, but he is truly dominate on the defensive interior. He also has incredible athleticism and length for his size, so his potential is certainly far from being met. Give him two more years in college, and he has the potential to be one of the most impactful bigs, similar to a Donovan Clingan or Ryan Kalkbrenner type.
Wesley Yates III – CG, Washington
We’ve already landed one former Washington Husky guard… why not another?
Wesley Yates III is a former top-40 ranked player in the class of 2023 joined Washington last season but had to sit out the whole season, due to foot injury.
It’s hard to get a good feel for his game, since most of the film is just highlights from his high school career, but it seems like he’s a skilled guard with tons of length (6-4) and an ability to score at all three levels.
Based on the highlights, it seems like Yates has a good shot from three and mid-range, decent handles, and pretty high level athleticism.
The former 4-star guard also took a visit to campus on April 23.
Adding a high potential player like Yates would be a great pickup. I wouldn’t expect him to be an immediate starter, but he could easily be a great backup guard that can play the two or three behind Koren Johnson, Terrence Edwards, and J’Vonne Hadley.
After visiting Louisville, many expected a commitment shortly after, but a few days later Yates was taking a visit to Stillwater.
It’s always best to get a guy to commit during or right after his visit, so it isn’t great to see him visiting other schools.
Great Osobor – F, Utah State
It truly is impressive how many high caliber players Coach Kelsey is getting in on. Great Osobor is another top talent to add to the list.
Osobor is a consensus top-5 rated player available in the transfer portal, due to a phenomenal junior season at Utah State that saw him average 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists.
Unlike many of the other players Kelsey is reaching out to, Osobor is not a great shooter. Last season, he shot 21.4% from three on just 0.4 3PA p/g. He also shot just 64% from the free throw line, but outside of shooting Osobor has it all.
Osobor is a physical beast that dominates on the inside, and he has a nice feel for the game. He will also be a plus on the defensive side, averaging 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.
From the moment Osobor hit the portal, I’ve seen Kentucky fans clamoring for this kid, and I assumed they’d probably land him, but his list of upcoming visits came out, and Louisville was included.
Osobor was high school teammates with Kentucky commit Armari Williams, and they also have the same agent. I’m still expecting Kentucky to land him, but if we can get him out of Lexington without a commitment, then I’d say we’ve got a pretty solid chance to land him.
Osobor will be one of the biggest additions to whatever team he chooses to play for. He’s so physically dominate on the inside, and he’s a really solid passer for the center position. Here’s to hoping he makes it Louisville right after his Lexington visit.
Ben Humrichous – F, Evansville
This next name is certainly lesser known than the ones mentioned previously, but the former NAIA stud has a lot of skill to his game.
Ben Humrichous, pronounced [HUM-RICK-HOUSE], spent his first three years in college at the NAIA level at Huntington University, a small school in Indiana. In his last season at Huntington, he put up impressive but not elite numbers: 12.8 points & 5.2 rebounds per game.
After three years at the NAIA level, Humrichous stepped up to the D-1 level with the Evansville Purple Aces, and he surprisingly ended up improving his numbers. Last year, Humrichous led the Aces in scoring and put up 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, while shooting 41.4% from three (5.3 3PA p/g). The 6-9 forward also added on 0.9 blocks and 0.7 steals.
Here’s my breakdown of his game:
- Elite shooter from three. Very quick release. His height allows him to shoot over defenders, especially in spot up situations.
- Only averaged 4.7 rebounds, but he’s a solid rebounder; especially on the offensive end. Not as good of a defensive rebounder. Lacks strength and physicality to finish off defensive rebounds.
- Scoring is the best part of his game. He’s a knockdown three point shooter. He can post up on smaller players and hit mid-range jumpers, and his height allows him to finish pretty well around the rim.
- Slightly above average athleticism for his position. Not very physical. Can get pushed out of good position when posting up on offense and gets pushed around when trying to block out on defense. Can also get pushed around off the ball, which makes it hard for him to get the ball, at times.
- Would grade him as a slightly above average defender. His height and length allows him to affect shots, but he doesn’t have very quick feet; which leads to him getting beat off the dribble by smaller players, also leaves his feet a lot on defense.
- I think he’s best as a stretch four. He’s got okay handles but nothing special. He could play the three, but he’d be a defensive liability against fast wings, and he doesn’t provide a ton of playmaking. He could also play as a small five, but his lack of physicality would make that difficult.
Until the weekend of April 20, I hadn’t even heard of this name, but it looks like he took a visit to Louisville with Koren Johnson.
Humrichous took visits to Louisville and Illinois, and there have been a few reports on Twitter saying he has chosen the Illini, so this name could be disappearing soon. I’ll wait until a more reliable source tweets the announcement before I take him off.
Jayden Quaintance – F/C, Class of 2024
Landing a commitment from the former Kentucky commit may not be the biggest year one addition to the roster, but it would certainly be the splashiest.
Jayden Quaintance is a top-ten rated player in the Class of 2024 and has been signed with the University of Kentucky since late 2023, but a change of head coach in Lexington caused Quaintance to re-open his recruitment.
The 6-9 big man is just 16 years old, but he posses some of the most natural basketball talent I’ve ever seen out of a prospect. He’s got a 7-3 wingspan, elite athleticism for his size, and an ability to dunk over almost anyone.
Quaintance has spent the last few years in the OTE League consistently dominating over much older players. Last year, he averaged 17.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 1.6 steals for the Holy Rams.
Here’s my breakdown of his game:
- Just an absolute athletic freak. Men (boys) of his size just don’t move the way he does.
- Elite at the rim. Does a great job of getting open while his guard drives in and almost always finishes with a dunk.
- Elite defender. Will affect almost any shot near him and also does a great job getting his hands into passing lanes.
- Will need to probably add a little bit of weight to his frame to be a dominant college big.
- Most of his damage is done within five feet of the rim, but he does posses some ability to shoot the mid-range, drive the basketball, and make passes; but these certainly aren’t skills he’s mastered just yet.
- Soft hands allow him to catch difficult passes, and he has nice touch around the rim.
Following his decommitment from Kentucky, Coach Kelsey was able to land his first visit, which is huge. All the reports say Quaintance enjoyed his time in the ‘Ville.
It looks like this one will be a tough one for the Cards to get. Right now, it sounds like it’s a battle between Louisville, Memphis, and ARIZONA STATE?. Quaintance had scheduled a visit to Arkansas and Kentucky, but reports have came out that he has eliminated both of those teams.
I don’t really know what’s going on here. Louisville had a slew of crystal ball predictions to land Quaintance after he cancelled his visits with Arkansas and Kentucky, but things have clearly changed; as he’s adding another school to visit. I still feel alright with where Louisville is at, but rumors have it that Arizona State is willing to throw quite the bag at Quaintance. Whoever gets this kid will be getting a stud for the next two years. If it’s Louisville, I’ll be insufferable on the Twitter timeline.
Trent Perry – G, Class of 2024
As great as it is to get old and stay old in the transfer portal, it will also be important for Coach Kelsey to grab some building block players that could be with the Cards for the next 2-4 years.
Trent Perry just recently de-comitted from USC, after they lost Andy Enfield to SMU. It wouldn’t shock me if the California kid stayed with the Trojans or followed Enfield to SMU, but the Cards have officially reached out to the talented guard.
Players of his caliber don’t often open up their recruitment this late into the game, so it’s no surprise so many big schools have reached out.
Perry led Harvard West Lake to a 33-3 record and a state championship while averaging 18.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while shooting 47.2 percent from three last season.
Thanks to those stats, Perry’s ranking has been rising since 2023. Perry also just recently played in the McDonald’s All-American game where he scored five points in 12 minutes of play. Here are the best highlights I could find from him. They’re from his Junior year:
It’s hard to get a true sense of his game by just watching the highlights, but it seems like he’s a really skilled guard with a great jump shot. He can shoot off the catch from three and loves to use his size to shoot over defenders on pull-ups from mid-range. I haven’t seen him take it to the rim a ton, but he does have a nice floater from around 5-10 feet out that he loves to utilize. Him averaging 6+ rebounds and 6+ assists also speaks to him likely having a well-rounded game.
Perry has taken a visit to Virginia, and they are now considered to be the leader for the McDonald’s All American.
Perry says he plans to make a decision around the beginning of May, so it looks like it might be a while until we see where he decides to play. Until then, let’s hope for a visit in the near future.
Javon Small – G, Oklahoma State
Another guard that shoots a ton of threes at a high rate of success? You know PK is reaching out.
Javon Small spent his first two seasons with East Carolina. After a spectacular sophomore season with the Pirates, Small transferred up to Oklahoma State; and his numbers didn’t dip with the up in competition. Small put up 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field and 37.4% from three (on 5.3 3PA P/G).
Small scored in double figures in 24/31 games this season and put up a season-high 34 points against BYU in the Pokes’ regular season finale, so you’re getting a consistent scorer that has an ability to go off any night.
I’ve watched a couple of games from Small’s last season. Here’s my quick breakdown of his game:
- Solid ball handler, though he does over-dribble at times.
- Really nice three point shot & mid-range jump shot, especially off the dribble.
- Not all that athletic. Struggles to get past his man on offense, then sometimes forces bad shots with little separation.
- Tries to do too much at times, and that leads to averaging 3+ turnovers a game
- Willing and able passer. Doesn’t hold the ball too long. If someone else is open, he’s getting them the ball. Does well in P&R action as the handler.
- Plus rebounder for the PG position.
- Decent on-ball defender. Almost non-existent off-ball defender. Sticks way too close to his man and typically doesn’t provide enough help on the drive.
After watching his game, I can see exactly why Coach Kelsey wants Small in a Louisville jersey. He’s a solid ball handler, really nice jump shooter on and off the ball, and he’s got the tools to guard on the ball. He does have some flaws, but his pros certainly outweigh his cons.
Small is rated as a Top-10 transfer portal player, according to 24/7 Sports, so it will certainly be a battle to land Small.
Small hit the portal in Mid-April y, so there’s still a long way to go to landing a guy of his caliber. Landing a 15+ PPG scorer from a Power-6 school will be a tall task, but for now there is hope.
Small took a visit to Miami on Wednesday, April 17 and Ole Miss on April 24.
Johnell Davis – G, Florida Atlantic
The Cards may not have landed Florida Atlantic’s head coach, but it looks like they’re making a push to nab their star player.
Johnell Davis entered into the transfer portal a few days ago, with many assuming he would follow his former head coach up to Ann Arbor, and, while that is still likely the case, it looks like Louisville basketball is going to make a push on the number one ranked player in the transfer portal.
Whether it was last year’s Final Four run, or this year’s Round of 64 loss to Northwestern, I’m sure most of Card Nation is familiar with this young man.
Davis was the C-USA 6th Man of the Year in 2022-2023, and then he helped lead the Owls to their first ever run to the Final Four.
This season, he went from star sixth man to AAC Player of the Year. Davis averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, while shooting 41.4% from three. He also tacked on an extra 1.4 steals per game, as well.
Davis is as well-rounded of a player you can find in college basketball. He really checks every box. He’s got an ability to handle the ball, facilitate, defend, get into the paint, knock down mid-range jumpers, and he’s turned himself into a lights out three point shooter; just to add a little cherry on top.
I think the only knock on Davis’ game would be his shot selection. He’s got supreme confidence to shoot anytime he has the ball, but, honestly, it’s warranted with how talented he is.
It has now been reported that Davis is unlikely to land with the Wolverines, due to admissions issues.
It sounds like it’s a battle between UK, Arkansas, and Houston to land the services of Davis. Louisville was involved early but has faded as his recruitment has drawn out.
Cade Tyson – F, Belmont
This is probably the transfer I’m most excited about possibly landing, but, based on the schools that have reached out to him, it will be a long-shot.
Cade Tyson has an all-around game and a three point shot that will have him likely to be an All-Conference player wherever he lands.
The 6’7 wing has spent two seasons at Belmont and averaged 16.2 points and 5.9 rebounds last season while shooting 47%?? (checks imaginary glasses) 47%!! from three on 5.5 attempts.
The younger brother of NBA wing and former Clemson standout, Hunter Tyson, has an incredible set of offensive skills. His bread and butter is spot-up three pointers, with nearly half of his shots coming from behind the arc, but he also has an ability to drive to the basket and use his length to pull-up or finish at the rim over his defender.
Tyson also has a solid defensive profile, as well, where he boasts above average foot speed and the length to block or affect shots near him. Tyson has averaged 1 steal and 0.5 blocks per game in his two seasons with the Bruins.
Now to the hard part… Tyson is ranked as a top-20 ranked transfer player and is being courted by nearly every major college. UNC, Duke, Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, and about 30 other Power-5 schools. Tyson is a North Carolina native, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him land at UNC or Duke.
Odds are slim that the Cards will be able to land him, and it looks likely he will end up back in his home state wearing Tar Heel Blue.
Tucker Anderson – F, Central Arkansas
If Louisville basketball is unable to land Cade Tyson, I think Tucker Anderson would be able to play a pretty similar role in the ‘Ville next season. Anderson spent just one season in the A-Sun with Central Arkansas before being named conference Rookie of the Year and deciding to transfer up.
In his lone season of college basketball, Anderson averaged 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, while shooting just over 38% from three.
Anderson has a lengthy frame, standing at 6-9, 190 lb. Combine that frame with his quick release, and he’s able to get off just about any shot he wants to.
His combination of length, athleticism, and shot-making ability have him poised to play well at the high major level and give him a chance to one day make it into the NBA.
Coach Kelsey’s emphasis on spacing and three point shooting would play perfectly into what Anderson is best at. Throw in the fact that he still has at least three years of eligibility, and this top-90 ranked transfer portal player could be an under the radar gem for Kelsey to steal.
Anderson visited Ohio State and looks unlikely to land in the ‘Ville.
Shakeel Moore – G, Mississippi State
With the addition of Kanye Cleary and the return of star guard Josh Hubbard, it’s no surprise Shakeel Moore has decided to enter the transfer portal.
Moore spent his first season at N.C. State, but has been at Mississippi State for the last three years, where he’s started more than 60 games for the Bulldogs. In his three seasons, he was a solid contributor averaging just less than 9 points per game, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
The undersized guard saw his raw numbers dip last year, due in large part to the Josh Hubbard takeover, but he saw his efficiency improve. Moore shot 47% from the field, and shot a career best 36.3% from three on 2.4 3PA P/G.
Moore is a bit undersized, just 6-1, but he’s a decent three point shooter, solid ball handler, and has quick hands on the defensive end. He’s also got some incredible bounce.
Moore is rated just a couple spots below Reyne Smith at 171st in the Transfer Portal, according to 24/7 Sports, but he’d be a solid addition to a team that still has 10 spots to fill on the roster. You’ll happily take a guy like this that can handle the ball, play solid defense, and consistently knock down open the threes.
Not much has come out on Moore’s recruitment. No visit to Louisville has been scheduled, but I also haven’t seen him visit anywhere else. Moore most likely isn’t a priority add for Power 5 programs, so it may be a while until we see where he lands.
Committed
Aboubacar Traore – F, Long Beach State
Nearly all of the players Coach Kelsey has reached out to can shoot the lights out from three. Aboubacar Traore is the exception to this. Thankfully, he can do everything else on the court.
Traore spent his first three seasons at Long Beach State slowly growing into the well-rounded player he is today. Last season, the 6-5 forward put up 12.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 9% from three (0.6 3PA p/g). He also averaged 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, as well.
Versatile is the best way to describe Traore’s game. He rebounds extremely well for his size; which will allow him to play 3-4 next season. He’s also a great playmaker, incredible defender; thanks to his length, and he’s extremely dangerous in transition.
Traore reminds me of a less skilled Pascal Siakam. The only real knock on Traore’s game is that he can’t shoot a lick. Traore shot 84% of his shots at the rim, so you will RARELY ever see him take anything that isn’t a layup or dunk.
Traore shot 2/23 from three last season and just 66% from the free throw line. Those are not numbers you usually associate with a desirable wing player, but the rest of Traore’s game more than makes up for his lack of shooting ability.
Chucky Hepburn – PG, Wisconsin
May I interest you in a Power-5 transfer that has started more than 100 games, is a career 37% three point shooter, and is considered one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball?
Chucky Hepburn spent his first three seasons at Wisconsin, where he started every single game; since his arrival. Last season, Hepburn put up 9.2 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.3 rebounds as the point guard for the Badgers. The arrival of AJ Storr cut Hepburn’ scoring down a bit (12.2 PPG in his sophomore year), but it also allowed him to up his assist numbers.
Here’s my breakdown of his game:
- Elite perimeter defender. Great foot speed allows him to stay in front of anyone. Will always guard the other team’s best guard. Only defensive issue I’ve seen is that he gets bumped off by screens pretty easily, and sometimes the screen will take him out completely.
- Good three point shooter (career 37% from three) with good range on his shot (able to shoot from 25+ feet out).
- Played primarily on the ball as the point guard, but his shooting ability allows him to play well off the ball, as well.
- Not really a factor on the glass. Will get 2-3 easy/long rebounds a game, but he’s not typically looking/fighting to get offensive or defensive rebounds.
- Manages the pick and roll well. His speed allows him to get around a defender and then he does a good job of keeping his defender on his hip to allow for a mid-range shot or a pass.
- Not the best at attacking the rim. He’s only 6-2 and doesn’t posses elite jumping ability. He definitely prefers to shoot a floater or a mid-range pull-up off of the pick and roll.
- Good passer. Almost always willing to swing to an open shooter or find the open man when he’s driving.
Hepburn brings Louisville everything they need right now. He’s an experienced ball handler, sporting a better than a 3-to-1 assist to turnover ratio. He shoots the three well (with plus range), and he’s a great perimeter defender.
A backcourt combination of Hepburn and Koren Johnson will be FILTHY. It will be one of the top backcourts in the conference, and it will have ACC guards trembling in fear.
Koren Johnson – G, Washington
Louisville has reached out to a ton of guards in the transfer portal, but it looks like this might be the one most likely to commit first.
Koren Johnson is a 6-2 guard with long arms that make him a menace on the defensive end. Johnson averaged 11.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and shot 37% from three (3.5 3PA p/g). Those stats were good enough to win him PAC-12 6th man of Year last season.
Here’s my breakdown of his game:
- Electric speed and quickness with the ball. Helps him get to the rim easily and makes him a huge threat in transition.
- With that speed, comes a little volatility. Had nearly a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio but plays out of control at times, and that can lead to some turnovers or bad shots.
- Really solid passer. Gets past perimeter defenders with ease and is as much of a threat to score as he is to pass.
- His combination of quickness and arm length makes him a great on-ball defender. He does a good job of keeping his man in front of him, and he’s always a threat to pick a players pocket.
- Really nice three point shooter, especially off the catch. Does a good job of moving off of the ball to get open.
- Savir Wheeler played a lot for UW last season, so Johnson was playing as a two-guard mainly, but I think he has the handles, quickness, and passing ability to be a score first point guard.
- EVERYWHERE on the defensive end. He’s always looking to get a quick steal if someone penetrates near him, and he’s always flying around trying to get a defensive rebound or loose ball.
Johnson visited Louisville over the weekend and got to see the fireworks firsthand. It looks like him and Evansville big Ben Humrichous took a visit together.
Koren Johnson was down to five schools back in late March, with Louisville not being included, but he re-opened his recruitment on April 10. Since then, Louisville seems to be the only school Johnson has visited.
Johnson will be a great fit in Kelsey’s system that prefers threes and shots at the rim. He will also do well on the defensive end where Kelsey wants to pressure the ballhandler and be up in the passing lane. Huge pickup for the Cards, as they get the another guard on the roster.
Aly Khalifa – C, BYU
What many once assumed was UK trying to get a transfer win over Louisville has now turned into the fifth portal addition to the new look Cardinals.
Aly Khalifa spent the last season dazzling Mormons with his point-center skills. Standing at 6-10, 255 lb. Khalifa posses a set of skills that is rarely ever seen for a man his size. Khalifa had a down year this season, compared to his sophomore season with the Charleston, but I think a lot of that can be attributed to nagging knee injury he will assumedly be having surgery on over the offseason.
Last season, Khalifa put up 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and FOUR ASSISTS a game. He also shot 32% from three on more than three attempts per game. In his prior, healthier year at Charlotte Khalifa’s stat line was much more impressive: 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. while shooting 38% from three (3.7 3PA p/g).
I mean… watch those highlights and tell me that doesn’t get you excited. Khalifa is a solid screen setter, a reliable three point shooter, and an elite playmaker. All three of those things play perfectly into what Pat Kelsey wants from his big men. Here is my breakdown of his game:
- Point center is the perfect term for his offensive game. When Khalifa was in, they were quite often running their offense through him. Incredible court vision and creativity as a passer.
- Quick and reliable three point shot. Huge threat on the perimeter to shoot or make a quick pass to an open shooter.
- A brick wall of a screen setter. Prefers to pick and pop, rather than pick and roll. His lack of athleticism makes him much less effective in a roll situation.
- Speaking of a lack of athleticism… Khalifa is not fleet of foot at all. He does a good job of holding position in the post, but he is a liability if he gets switched on a guard or has to play transition defense.
- Did not play a lot of minutes for a starter. Khalifa started almost every game for BYU this year, but he only averaged 19.4 MPG. He did play nearly 30 minutes a game in the year prior, so I’m not sure if this was because of conditioning, the knee injury, or just the coaches rotation decision.
All-in-all, Khalifa is the perfect addition for Kelsey. Khalifa is Egyptian, so he cannot accept any NIL, so to get this skilled of a player for free is amazing. It stinks that Khalifa will have to redshirt next season, but a year of getting his knee right and improving his conditioning could lead to an incredible 2025 season.
J’Vonne Hadley – G/F, Colorado
NEW COMMIT ALERT!! This time, it’s a top-50 rated transfer player that nearly helped the Buffaloes to their first Sweet 16 in nearly 15 years.
J’Vonne Hadley spent his freshman season in the CAA at Northeastern, playing sparingly, then transferred to Colorado where he has spent his last two seasons. Year one in Boulder saw Hadley start more than half of his games, but year two is when he really came into the player he is.
Hadley started all 36 games for the Buffaloes last year, and he averaged 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He also shot nearly 54% from the field, above 40% from three (1.3 3PA p/g) and just less than 85% from the free three line, while adding in more than a steal each game. Hadley has a do it all mentality and can affect the game in a wide variety of ways.
It was announced last week Hadley had cut his list of schools down to just Louisville and USC, with a decision coming on April 16.
And on that same day, Coach Kelsey is sent out a cryptic tweet.
Just a few hours after that Tweet, Hadley made it official.
Here is my breakdown of Hadley’s game:
- An extremely versatile player. Can handle the ball, shoot the three, drive into the lane, facilitate for others, rebound, and guard.
- More of a jack of all trades. I wouldn’t say he’s elite at one thing, but he can help you out in any way and in every single stat column. Reminds me of a Dwayne Sutton type player.
- Pass first player. Will swing the ball if he doesn’t have an advantage and is always looking to pass the ball when he attacks the rim.
- Not a great athlete. Won’t often go 1-on-1 and blow past a defender, but he will attack when he has an advantage.
- Really mature player. Doesn’t force shots. Attacks when he has an advantage on the defense but is passive at times.
- Solid defender. Can guard 1-4 on defense. I wouldn’t call him a lockdown defender, but he does a good job staying in front of his defender and is almost always in the right position.
- Solid three point shooter (40%+ from three), but its almost always on an open spot up shot. Won’t create three point shots very often off the dribble.
- Crafty finisher at the rim. Doesn’t posses elite athleticism, so he won’t often finish over a defender, but he does a great job using his body and the rim to when attacking the rim.
Hadley is the type of player that can play with anyone and help in any way the team needs it. He won’t ever be the most talented, or go to guy on the floor, but he’ll make everyone else on the court better. Surround him with talent, and this team will thrive.
Terrence Edwards, Jr. – G/F, James Madison
There’s no better name to start with than this year’s reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, Terrence Edwards Jr.
The 6-6 wing lead the Dukes to an incredible 32-4 record last season, including an upset win over 5-seed Wisconsin in the Round of 64.
Edwards was one of the best players on one of the best Mid-Major programs in all of college basketball scoring 17.2 Points, 4.4 Rebounds, and 3.4 Assists per game. Edwards also shot 34.3% from three this year, but was a 46% three point shooter in the year prior. Edwards is currently ranked as the 57th best player in the transfer portal via On3 and is ranked as the 40th best player by 24/7 Sports.
It was a two team race to land Edwards, with the Cards battling against ACC rival Florida State. Edwards visited Louisville on April 3, and secured a commitment from him less than six hours later.
I truly don’t think there are 20 better players in the portal, let alone 40+. Edwards has strong handles, a solid three point shot, a strong mid-range game, enough quickness to get past his defender, and enough length on defense to be solid. He does struggle on defense, at times, as he’s often standing too upright on and off the ball, and he oftentimes seems disinterested in blocking out or grabbing rebounds, but these are things coaching can fix. Cards fans should be THRILLED about this addition.
Landing a player of Edwards’ caliber gets this transfer portal class started off with a BANG. His ability to score at all three levels, play-make, and defend will bring a huge lift to the Cardinals next season and gives us a great foundation to build with the remaining 9+ scholarships Pat Kelsey has to divvy out.
Reyne [Rain] Smith – G, Charleston
I know the name might not be huge, but I think the production will be. Bringing in a player with three years of experience and impressive production under Coach Kelsey will be huge. I liken it to what we did with Jack Plummer in year one under Coach Brohm, except less mid.
Reyne Smith was an unranked recruit out of Australia in the Class of 2021, but he’s been a double digit scorer and three point specialist since he arrived on campus. Smith has shot at least seven threes per game and shot above 34% in each year, with his best shooting season coming last year when he shot 39.4% from three on a ridiculous 8.1 attempts per game.
Smith is truly a three point specialist, but that’s not all he brings to the table. He’s also a solid ball handler and play maker. He averaged just less than two assists per game last season, but his better than 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio shows he can be trusted with the ball in his hand.
Smith is obviously the ideal player to be in Coach Kelsey’s system. He’s got a lighting fast release, incredible range that will keep the defense glued to him, and a willingness to move off the ball and pass to open shooters.
After watching quite a few Charleston games, I’d say Smith is an average defender. He doesn’t produce a ton of turnovers, and has blocked just two shots in his career, but he does a good job of playing fundamental defense where he stays in front of his man. I’ve also seen him draw a couple of charges, as well.
Smith may only be ranked as the 169th best player in the transfer portal, but I think he’s a great pickup for Louisville; especially with his ability to help new players better understand the offensive and defensive system Coach Kelsey wants to run.
James Scott – F/C, Charleston
Now we move to the lesser known, but higher upside Charleston transplant, James Scott.
Scott came to Charleston last season as a player ranked outside of the Top-200 in the class of 2023, but his length, athleticism, and defensive impact forced Coach Kelsey to play him significant minutes in his first season.
Scott played 16 minutes a game last year, and was the backup center for Coach Kelsey. He shot a staggering 79% from the field last season, thanks to him basically trying to dunk every time he shot.
But what is most impressive about Scott is what he can do on the defensive side of the ball. Scott averaged 1.3 blocks per game (IN JUST 16 MINUTES). Give him a standard 30 minutes played, and he’s averaging right around 2.5 blocks per game.
Having a rim protector like Scott will be huge in Kelsey’s system. The guards will be aggressive on the ball and will almost always be playing in the passing lanes off the ball. That’s great for making offenses uncomfortable and forcing turnovers, but that also means there will be a lot of opportunities for opposing offenses to get to the basket. Having a guy like Scott to protect the rim on those plays will be huge.
Scott’s offensive game is pretty limited. He’s quicker than most 5’s, and his athleticism allows him to try to dunk almost everything and be a lob threat. He has also impressed me with his court vision. He’s very willing to kick it out to a shooter if the defense has collapsed too much onto him.
His game outside of 5-feet was pretty non-existent last season, and he was just a 44% free throw shooter in his freshman year, but he’ll potentially have three seasons at Louisville to expand that part of his game. I think it’d also be great if he could throw on 20 more pounds to allow him to take more contact in the paint.
In year one at Louisville, I believe Scott will play a similar role to what he did at Charleston, a backup big that provides solid interior defense, an ability to run the court, and finish at the rim, but it’s his potential junior and senior season that should have fans most excited.
Editor’s note: This will be updated with new transfer targets and commitments.
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