Louisville basketball’s newest guard Fabio Basili has drawn mixed reception from supporters and those covering the program. Diving into what Basili actually brings to the table for the Cards.
If you’d have some of the most ardent Louisville basketball supporters tell you, the addition of 2023 reclass Fabio Basili is a massive win for the Cards.
The social media reception was overwhelmingly positive after his official commitment on Wednesday night.
Others point to the fact that Basili is a little-known commodity with very few offers as evidence that he will not be a significant contributor for the Cards in 2022-23.
And those skeptical can undoubtedly make a strong point.
Basili is rated as the No. 41 point guard in the class of 2023 according to 247Sports. Rivals and On3 list him as an unranked prospect. ESPN recruiting does not even have a profile for the 6’5″ combo guard from Oak Ridge High School.
According to 247Sports, Basili holds offers from Louisville, SMU, and TCU. On3 says he has offers from the Cards, DePaul, Chatanooga, FAU, and Kansas State. Other major recruiting services have no info on him.
It certainly feels a bit odd that Louisville basketball, a quasi-blueblood program, is signing a prospect with little to no interest from other top programs and no public scouts from any of the top recruiting services.
It’s not for lack of visibility on the AAU circuits. Basili has been a member of the Florida Rebels AAU squad, giving him ample opportunity to play in front of scouts and coaches.
So, what is it about Basili that drew the attention of the Louisville basketball coaching staff? And what does he mean for this Louisville program in 2022-23 and beyond?
2 scholarships guards are better than 1
To start, while the addition of Basili might not be a head turner nationally, it’s definitely something for Louisville.
In the way of actually adding another true ball handler to this UofL roster.
We have harped on this for weeks. Kenny Payne and co. have had El Ellis and literally no one else on the roster as a true ball handler and distributor. So, while Ellis is a solid piece, the Cardinals were going to roll into the 2022-23 season with no backup plan pre-Basili commitment.
Basili could be a mess. He could be ill-suited for the next level at this juncture. He is almost certainly a work in progress.
But, dammit, we will take it at this point.
That may come across as overly pessimistic or too simplistic of a view, but the truth is Louisville needed bodies in the backcourt. The Cards were one El Ellis tweaked ankle away from walk-on Hercy Miller or true freshman wing Kamari Lands running the point this year.
Louisville needed at least a warm body, and if that body is a player who averaged 20 points and 4 assists per game in a top-tier Florida high school league, we will take that at this point.
Tale of the tape and opponent analysis
That brings us to the real crux of the situation.
What, exactly, does Basili bring to the table for the Cards?
“I view myself as a team player, an energy spark to the game, a coachable student of the game, and someone who is ready to sacrifice for my team,” Basili told On3.
For Louisville basketball fans, that is really all you can hope for this late in the process.
The tape shows a prospect that is raw. A project with a decent foundation and solid potential.
Although his release is a little slower, Basili creates space well and gets decent lift on his outside shots. This translated in 25 games with Oak Ridge Academy last season where he sank 40 of 102 3-point field goal attempts, good for 39%.
Basili finished last season at Oak Ridge shooting 63% from inside the arc. On tape, he showed a propensity to outstride his opponents en route to the rack. He does seem to lean more into his lankiness and leaping ability when finishing around the bucket rather than absorbing contact. For context, he shot fewer free throws last season than he attempted 3-point baskets.
He showcases length and athleticism, exhibiting a willingness to get into passing lanes and create deflections. He turned in 1.4 steals per game in his final high school season, and that is highlighted quite a bit across multiple highlight packages.
Most importantly for Louisville basketball this season, Basili is a capable and willing distributor of the basketball. Think David Johnson-esque in terms of how he sets up his teammates. The key to his game as a floor general is his ability to get defenders moving one way and then snapping a pass cross-court, or dumping the ball off in the lane. This facet of his game alone is enough to be a bit excited about his potential to contribute as a Card.
Basili could stand to add muscle to his frame. It is apparent going back to highlights and photos from previous seasons that he has shot up from his listed height of 6’3 or 6’4. However, he needs to fill in this frame if he is going to see clock at the college level.
Basili’s game could be described as loose and free. This can be an asset for him at times, but if he is going to be asked to spare Ellis or even contribute meaningful minutes, he will have to tighten up his handle as his game matures.
The opposition for Basili during his high school career is certainly something to consider as he transitions to power five basketball. Oak Ridge would not be considered a basketball powerhouse. However, the school did recently produce Antonio Blakeney and now new Louisville teammate Mike James. The Orlando area also gave us major names like Cole Anthony, Jonathan Isaac, and Markell Fultz.
The limited analysis of Basili as a three-star recruit is probably pretty spot on. However, his frame and athleticism make his upside massive for Louisville.
If he comes in and doesn’t pan out as a starter or serious contributor, it’s not the end of the world. At least Louisville has someone else to go to in the backcourt, which is all fans ever really wanted in year one under Kenny Payne.
So, what does the commitment of Basili really mean for Louisville basketball?
I am pumping the breaks on doling out any major praise for the incoming freshman. But, my god, is it better than the alternative.
