Let’s take a look at the additions the Louisville women’s basketball team made in the offseason
We went through all the key losses on and off the court the Louisville women’s basketball team previously. Now, it’s time to go through all the additions Jeff Walz made in the offseason to counteract those departures. A
fter a final four run in the 2021-22 season Louisville women’s basketball lost three players to graduation, two players to the transfer portal, and two coaches to other schools. As some of the departures were extremely impactful, Coach Walz made major moves to bring in talented individuals to help lift the Cards to the next level.
Let’s get into all the additions made by Walz and the Louisville women’s basketball program.
2022 Louisville women’s basketball recruiting class incoming
The Louisville women’s basketball team has added four superstar freshmen to the team this season to help neurtralize the departures. This will be tied for Louisville’s largest recruiting class since the 2016 class. That class was highlighted by Kylee Shook, Jazmine Jones, and Bionca Dunham- three very important pieces during Louisville’s postseason runs.
The 2022 class is highlighted by 6’2 four star forward Nyla Harris from Lake Highland Prep. Nyla is the highest ranked recruit at number 35 in the nation, and she is the number 8 forward. Harris has the build and athleticism needed to contribute right away for the Cards.
Also read: Chatting with 2022 Louisville commit Nyla Harris
The second freshman is 6’0 guard Zyanna Walker out of Wichita Heights High School. Walker comes in as the second highest rated recruit at 38 nationally, and the number 8 guard. Walker is a very high level scorer with the ball in her hand, and a very capable ball handler. The freshman will be a great compliment to super senior Mykasa Robinson and grad transfer Chrislyn Carr.
State of Louisville archives: Getting to know future Cardinal Zyanna Walker
State of Louisville archives: Getting to know 2022 commit Imani Lester
Our next freshman to talk about is Imani Lester. The 6’3 post player was the number 57 overall player, and number 8 big in the class. Lester comes to Louisville from North Raleigh Christian Academy. She is a skilled interior player with a great face-up game and compliments that by being a great rebounder. She can handle the ball well for her size and will be a nice backup to senior Liz Dixon and grad transfer Josie Williams.
The last player in the 2022 recruiting class is Jalyn Brown. Brown comes to Louisville from St. Francis Academy and is the number 78 overall player and number 12 wing in the class. Brown comes in as a project, and Coach Walz’s staff does wonders with those players. In an interview I did with Nyla Harris she described Brown as a diamond in the rough.
Relevant reading: Getting to know Louisville’s Jalyn Brown
The transfer portal comes up clutch for Jeff Walz
Head Coach Jeff Walz is a busy man in the transfer portal every year. He loses some and gains some every offseason. Notable transfers of years past include the likes of Liz Dixon, Elizabeth Balogun, Ahlana Smith, Chelsie Hall, and Emily Engstler. This season, Coach Walz will be bringing in three grad transfers to fill out roster holes for 2022-23.
The first transfer to commit to Louisville out of the portal was grad transfer Morgan Jones. Jones comes to Louisville from FSU, and was a part of the 2018 recruiting class. Jones was the number 66 overall prospect and the number 19 guard coming out of high school before going on to have an exceptional career in Tallahassee.
She’s a 1,000-point scorer for the Seminoles who was a twice named WBCA All-American Honorable Mention, and All-ACC First Team. The senior was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team in 2022 and averaged 13.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. As a side note, Jones’ best game last season was against the Cards, where she dropped 28 on Walz’s crew.
Walz’s second transfer was Syracuse senior Chrislyn Carr. Carr was the number 116 ranked recruit in the 2018 recruiting class. Originally signing with Texas Tech out of high school, Carr was Big 12 Freshman of the Year in her first season. She followed that up with an All-Big 12 Honorable mention in her sophomore year. Carr transferred to Baylor in her junior year, then on to Syracuse without playing a game for the Bears. As a member of the Orange, she had a solid senior year averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
The third transfer being added to the roster is 6’5 Josie Williams out of Utah Valley State. Some fans and media have criticized Jeff Walz because they say he doesn’t have big enough teams – to which Williams answers that criticism. She’s an is a two-time All-WAC first-team member. Last season she averaged 17.3 points and 12.4 rebounds for Utah Valley State. Williams ranked fifth nationally in total rebounds, and seventh in offensive rebounds. Williams also set the school record at Utah Valley State with 24 double-doubles. The senior adds a ton of experience and size to the Louisville front court.
“She doesn’t fall in either category so she gets her own section” section
This section will be dedicated to redshirt freshman, and fan favorite Alexia Mobley. Mobley is a 6’2 wing who was originally part of the 2022 class. She was able to graduate a year early to reclassify to the 2021 class and be apart of last years team. While she didn’t play in a game, she was able to be around the team, the workout facility, the staff all while getting acclimated to the game.
Louisville fan’s have a soft spot for Mobley and have for years after she committed to the program as a freshman and stuck with it all the way through. Not to mention, she lets the fan’s feel the love on social media shouting out the city & fans all the time.
What will the Cards get in 2022-23? A very high IQ basketball player that comes from a basketball family, who has the potential to be scary good. Mobley has a really good perimeter shot, and can spread the floor with her size and length. She’s also a very good rebounder and shot blocker for her size as she is a very quick leaper, and is a solid player in transition. With Mobley getting a year under her belt last season in the program I believe she will be a very solid contributor and impact player for the Cards this season.
New coaches count also
With the departure of beloved assistant coach Sam Purcell to Mississippi State, a hole was left in the coaching staff for the Louisville women’s basketball program. It didn’t take long for Coach Walz to fill that crucial spot with Shay Robinson. Robinson came to Louisville from Ole Miss where he had been for the last two seasons as the Associate Head Coach. Before his stint at Ole Miss, Robinson was on staff at Maryland for six seasons where he was apart of five Big Ten regular season titles, and four Big Ten tournament titles. He also helped the Terps earn two Sweet 16 appearances, and a 2015 final four.
He also brings a wealth of recruiting success and connections to the staff. During his stint at Maryland he helped to recruit the number 1 class in 2016, number 4 in 2017, and number 3 in 2019. Before Robinson got into college coaching he was head instructor at the EDGE Training Facility, based in Orlando, Florida. EDGE has become the premier training facility in the state of Florida.
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