Cards Still In Play For ‘26, But Two Losses Are At Least Temporary Setbacks

By RUSS BROWN Photos By UofL Athletics 

I wrote in last month’s issue about how bright the future looked for Louisville’s men’s basketball team, which seemed positioned for a successful encore to Pat Kelsey’s surprising accomplishments in his first season as the Cardinals’ head coach this past winter. 

With a solid core of returning players, a transfer portal haul that is considered among the best in the nation and a highly-regarded freshman, U of L was being mentioned as (gasp) a potential Final Four prospect and even a possible contender for the national championship. ESPN ranks the Cardinals No. 3 in its “Way-Too-Early Top 25,” behind only Houston and Purdue. 

However, things can change quickly in the world of college basketball these days, so it’s already time for a slight re-evaluation of Louisville’s 2025-26 prospects due to a couple of unexpected developments recently. They don’t necessarily have to be fatal, but the Cards certainly can’t be looked at quite as attractively as they once were. 

First, returning 6-foot-11 center James Scott, a rising junior, entered the transfer portal at the last minute and wound up signing with Ole Miss. Scott, who played for Kelsey at College of Charleston as a freshman, was one of four Cards who appeared in all 35 games (31 starts) of the 2024-25 season, despite suffering a facial fracture in February that required him to wear a mask for the remainder of the campaign. 

His team-high 79 dunks were the fourth most across Division I, the third most during a season in program history and earned him the nickname, “Silence of the Slams.” Scott also led the team in blocks with 30, averaged 7.1 points per game and was the second-leading rebounder with 6.1. 

“He’s one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached,” Kelsey said during the season. “I’ve never met a more devoted, committed basketball player. I mean, I’ve coached hundreds of players; and I’ve never seen anybody who you absolutely, positively have to drag out of the gym.” 

While he and Kelsey were considered very close, the coach said he had no hard feelings about Scott’s sudden exit. 

“In today’s day and age, nothing surprises you,” Kelsey said. “Love that young man. I’ll support him. I’ll be there for him the rest of his life. You don’t take things like that personal. He’s going to do great, wherever he goes.” 

As if Scott’s departure wasn’t damaging enough, U of L suffered another blow a few weeks later when his projected replacement, 6-11 Aly Khalifa, was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for his final season. In a statement, U of L said the transfer from BYU, who sat out this past season with the Cards while rehabbing a knee injury, will appeal the decision, adding that the Alexandria, Egypt native has a strong case for reversal. 

Kelsey had said several times that he expected Khalifa to be a major force for U of L next season and called him “the best passing big man in the country.” Khalifa, who started his career at Charlotte, averaged 5.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 2023-24 at BYU and has career averages of 8.5, 4.8 and 3.4 in 94 games. 

Kelsey moved quickly to help fill the void in the front court due to the losses of Scott and Khalifa (at least temporarily) by getting a commitment from Mouhamed Camara, a 6-7 forward and native of Dakar, Senegal who has been with the NBA Academy Africa program since 2023. 

He is the sixth newcomer on the roster for Kelsey’s second season as the head coach at U of L. 

The Cards also added 6-3 Mikel Brown Jr., rated No. 8 in ESPN’s Top 100 and the No. 1 point guard, out of the high school ranks as well as 6-11 German Sanada Fru, plus a top-10 portal class consisting of Xavier transfer Ryan Conwell, Virginia’s Isaac McKneely and Kennesaw State’s Adrian Wooley. 

Brown has been selected to compete for a spot in one of the most prestigious youth teams in the world this summer. He will participate in the USA Basketball Men’s U19 National Team training camp, starting June 14 at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where 33 players will vie for a spot on the 12-man roster.

Brown, a McDonald’s All-American, helped lead the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup, averaging 10.3 points and 5.2 assists while starting every game. 

And don’t rule out another addition or two this spring or summer, so the Cards could still be one of the best teams in the nation. 

“You are always looking for ways to improve things,” Kelsey says. “Everything is still on the table.” 

Even without more help, Kelsey is bullish on the prospects for his team next season. J’Vonne Hadley, who averaged 12.2 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds a game, returns. So do 6-10 Kasean Pryor, who was injured early in the season and missed the rest of the year, rising sophomore forward Khani Rooths and redshirt guard Kobe Rodgers. 

“We love, love, love our roster,” Kelsey said. “I think we did a phenomenal job in the portal. We’re so excited about the incoming freshmen as well, and you mix them together with some grizzled veterans who know our system like the back of their hand, and I think it’s a phenomenal mix. We’re so excited how it all came together, and we think we have a chance to be special next year. We’re chomping at the bit to get them all on campus (this month) and get going. “