Louisville basketball and Chris Mack commit a little ACC on ACC crime on the recruiting trail.
The class of 2021 continues to look more and more impressive for Louisville basketball.
As the No. 1 overall JUCO player in the class and Louisville commit El Ellis tears it up, fellow signees Roosevelt Wheeler, Bobby Pettiford, Michael James, and Eric Van Der Heijden show tons of promise as part of the Chris Mack’s No. 5 rated recruiting class.
Now, Louisville will have a sixth player join the fold.
Miami transfer, and a top 100 player in the 2020 class, Matt Cross has committed to Louisville basketball. Cross chose the Cardinals over a number of suitors including Indiana. He committed to Miami over the Hoosiers, Butler, Florida, South Carolina, and Maryland among others.
Louisville basketball had some issues with containing Cross this season. As a true freshman, he dropped 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists in an upset win over the Cardinals.
Only a week later, Cross had some internal issues and was held out of a game in what head coach Jim Larranega called a “coaches decision.”
Cross entered the transfer portal shortly after.
How Cross fits at Louisville
Here is Cross’ evaluation out of high school by scout Jerry Meyer of 247Sports:
Has a strong build and is effective in traffic. Much more of a productive player than an explosive athlete. Combo forward type who rebounds well, shoots well and can play on the wing or in high post. Adequate ball handler and passer. Smart defender who has versatility, although he is not the quickest defender.
Jerry Meyer, 247Sports
Cross ultimately committed to Miami because of his relationship with the coaching staff and his tendency to get along with more veteran coaches.
“I tend to gravitate to and get along with older coaches more than younger ones,” Cross told reporters when asked why he chose UM. “I like Coach L’s values, what he stood for. Between him and Coach Caputo they were very consistent in showing that they really wanted me and respected my game.”
As far as where Cross fits in next season, he certainly has potential to make an immediate impact.
Cross shot 40 percent from beyond the arc as a true freshman, is a capable rebounder, a strong slasher and driver, and a good passer.
It is unclear at this point what will happen with Senior Malik Williams or sophomore David Johnson- both of whom could bolt for the league. However, the Cardinals will have two more scholarships open up next season regardless of who graduates after taking a hit due to penalization from the NCAA.
What is clear is that Louisville will have a lot of youth and inexperience next year. What Mack’s squad needs is more consistent shooting and rebounding from the guard and wing spots. That is what Cross brings to the table.
This is great news for the Louisville basketball program.
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