The Louisville Cardinals basketball team had a memorable 2024–25 season. After winning only 12 games over two years under former head coach Kenny Payne, the program found new energy under Pat Kelsey. He inherited a team in need of revival—one far removed from the proud legacy of 10 Final Four appearances and three national championships.
Though the season began with a shaky 6-5 record, the Cardinals caught fire, winning 19 of their final 20 regular-season games and finishing 18-2 in ACC play. They reached the ACC Tournament title game, where they fell to Duke, and were later upset by No. 9 seed Creighton in the NCAA Tournament’s first round.
Despite the tough ending to an otherwise impressive season, expectations are sky-high for 2025–26. Here are three reasons Louisville may have had the best offseason in the ACC.
An instant-impact freshman class
Chucky Hepburn is set to pass the torch at point guard to Mikel Brown Jr., a five-star McDonald’s All-American from DME Academy. Ranked No. 6 nationally in the 2025 class by 24/7 Sports, the 6-foot-3 Brown is expected to take over starting point guard duties immediately.
In the frontcourt, one of the most intriguing additions is 6-foot-11, 245-pound power forward/center Sananda Fru, a four-star recruit from Germany.
With BYU transfer Aly Khalifa’s waiver denied (though he is reportedly appealing), the spotlight shifts even more onto Fru. While he’s a freshman in the classroom, Fru brings a wealth of professional experience from overseas. He’ll turn 22 in August and offers a well-rounded skill set—strong finishing, athletic mobility, and defensive versatility thanks to a 7-foot-2 wingspan.
Louisville also added international reinforcements in late May, signing Mouhamed Camara from NBA Academy and Vangelis Zougris from Peristeri B.C. in Greece, adding further depth to an already promising frontcourt.
High-level, improved shooting from the transfer portal
Pat Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals wasted no time hitting the transfer portal early in the offseason, securing three major additions: Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia), and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State). Together, they form what could be an elite, sharpshooting backcourt.
Conwell posted averages of 16.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game last season at Xavier, knocking down 41.3% of his three-point attempts. He also shot 40% from deep during his time at South Florida. Speaking of elite shooters, Virginia’s Isaac McKneely brings even more firepower, having connected on 42.1% of his threes last season on more than seven attempts per game. The year before, he shot an impressive 44.5%.
Adrian Wooley, a standout freshman at Kennesaw State, averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc and over 50% overall from the field on high volume (12.3 shots per game).
Noticing a pattern? Louisville, which attempted more than 28 threes per game last season but struggled with consistency, now adds three proven shooters who each hit over 40% from deep. That shooting efficiency is expected to dramatically boost the Cardinals’ perimeter game in 2025–26.
A big season lies ahead for J’Vonne Hadley and Kasean Pryor
J’Vonne Hadley stands out as one of the most versatile talents in the ACC. At 6-foot-6, he brings a hybrid skill set, functioning as a 3-and-D wing with the ability to post double-doubles. Last season, he posted 12.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, leading Louisville in rebounding. He recorded seven double-doubles, highlighted by a dominant 32-point, 10-rebound performance in a January win over Clemson. His return gives the Cardinals a steady, experienced presence on both ends of the court.
Louisville also welcomes back Kasean Pryor, who is using his final year of eligibility. Pryor played just seven games last season before an ACL injury ended his year, but he still averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game during that stretch. Known for his tough defense, Pryor’s return should help Louisville maintain a top-25 ranking in KenPom’s defensive efficiency, even with the departure of Chucky Hepburn.
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