In the first year, Pope and Kelsey make an immediate impact, revitalising Louisville and Kentucky

Nashville, Tennessee— It has been discovered that the employment of a new coach can result in rapid turnarounds, even in the current era of the transfer portal and NIL money. Programs are required to make the appropriate decision.

Louisville and Kentucky certainly appear to have accomplished this.

What You Must Know

• The recruitment of a new coach can result in rapid turnarounds. Examine Louisville and Kentucky.
• Mark Pope has successfully navigated an injury-plagued season and has secured the return of No. 18 Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament.
• Pat Kelsey has supervised the nation’s largest reversal, with a total of 27 victories. He was awarded the ACC Coach of the Year title.
• Louisville commences tournament play on Thursday, while Kentucky commences play on Friday.

Mark Pope was required to complete an entire roster at Kentucky upon his return to his alma mater. He persevered through an injury-plagued season and continues to ensure that Kentucky returns to the NCAA Tournament, as the Big Blue Nation anticipates and demands. The Wildcats, who are currently 18th in the rankings, will commence their record-breaking 62nd tournament appearance on Friday as the No. 3 seed against Troy in Milwaukee.

Pope stated, “The accomplishments of these individuals are truly remarkable. Therefore, I am eager to observe the extent to which we can apply the lessons learnt in the postseason to the NCAA tournament and the potential benefits.” “Observing it will be an extremely thrilling experience.”

Pat Kelsey has not only revitalised a program that won only eight games last season at Louisville, but he has also led the nation’s largest turnaround with 27 victories. After being recruited away from Charleston, he has the Cardinals ranked 10th nationally and the No. 8 seed in the South Region, beginning Thursday in Lexington, Kentucky, against ninth-seeded Creighton.

Kelsey commented on his Cardinals’ loss to Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament final, stating, “You have to fight for that every day because human nature seeps in, adversity seeps in, success seeps in, and our guys have been amazingly consistent in their approach every day.” “They are victorious.” They are resilient. You have observed their struggle over the past three days. Heck, within the past six months. They are a pleasure to instruct.”

During the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against SMU on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, in Dallas, Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey shouts from the sideline. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Pope and Kelsey were both required to complete revised rosters. A small number of Wildcats either accompanied John Calipari to Arkansas or entered the portal. After accumulating 12 victories in two seasons under his predecessor, Kenny Payne, Kelsey was left with only a walk-on.

Pope brought 12 newcomers to Kentucky, which is the fifth-highest number among power conferences. Kelsey’s haul of 16 ties California for the most in that category. They were the sole major conference team that failed to replicate their productivity from the previous season.

The coaches had demonstrated their ability to achieve success in other environments. Pope’s record at BYU was 110-52 over the course of five seasons, and he was 23-11 in the Cougars’ inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference. He earned two NCAA berths during his four-year tenure.

Over the course of 13 seasons, Kelsey has made five NCAA appearances with three distinct programs. He arrived at Louisville with a 75-27 record from his three seasons at Charleston and successfully returned the Cardinals to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. His roster was bolstered by 11 players who had played in this tournament last year and had already played 20 NCAA games, which is a testament to his track record of success.

Chucky Hepburn was lured to Louisville by the coach after spending three years at Wisconsin. Kelsey was named the ACC coach of the year, and he was a first-team selection for the AP All-ACC.

“You should review his curriculum vitae,” Hepburn instructed. “Coach Kelsey is a victor.” He has achieved success in every location where he has been, and he is known for recruiting champions. Upon my arrival, I was aware that I would be encircled by victors and a pack of dogs who were engaged in a competitive effort to win contests. That is precisely the reason I arrived here, and we were able to secure victories in the final stages.

This season, the Cardinals achieved two distinct winning streaks of at least ten games. Kelsey is credited by J’Vonne Hadley, who has spent the past two years at Colorado, with initiating a process of resetting.

“I mean, who wouldn’t want to come play for Louisville and attempt to restore the team to its former glory by winning games?” Hadley stated. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to come play for Louisville and attempt to restore the team to its former glory by winning games?” Hadley stated.

Regardless of the coach or the obstacles, Kentucky’s expectations and pressure remain consistent. Pope has failed to secure a victory in his initial two NCAA Tournament appearances. Pope stated that this is not about him; it is about the Wildcats and understanding the significance of Kentucky in the realm of collegiate basketball.

Pope stated, “This is our sole season with this group.” “We have no prior history of a year, and I believe that we are simply attempting to extend the duration of this situation.” We do not require that motivation, as these individuals are so eager to enter.

TRANSCRIPT: What Pat Kelsey and Terrence Edwards Jr. had to say after the ACC Championship defeat to Duke

Charlotte, North Carolina – No. 13 No. 1 Duke stopped Louisville’s 11-game winning run in the ACC Championship on Saturday night. Duke’s second-run surge was too much for the Cardinals to overcome, and they lost 73-62.

Terence Edwards Jr. led Louisville with 29 points and six rebounds.

Following the loss, both UofL head coach Pat Kelsey and Edwards spoke with the media.

Continue reading to learn what Kelsey and Edwards had to say following the ACC Championship.

Pat Kelsey’s opening statement

I’d want to start by congratulating Duke. Great team. Jon is an excellent coach. They were the superior team today, and they deserve praise.

I’m quite proud of our players. I informed them in the dressing room that they had two losses in the past three months. Right?

I truly believe that the best is yet to come for this squad, but I told them that the disappointment they are currently experiencing should not prevent them from realising what a fantastic season they are having.

I informed them that the people of Louisville adore them. Our town has been knocked down, and this squad has done a lot to revitalise it, just as it had in the previous few years. Basketball is really important in Louisville.

It’s an incredible bunch of young guys, and our fans have witnessed how they put their hearts and souls into making that name across our shirt great again, and they’ve succeeded. We are incredibly happy and privileged to be playing in the national competition, which begins next week. We’re thrilled to find out where we’re heading and who we’ll be playing tomorrow. I feel it is the greatest show in American sports, and we are thrilled and lucky to be part of it.

Our boys have been true soldiers over the previous three days. They’ve played till they were exhausted. They performed their hearts out. They left everything on the floor.

Last night’s game was one of the most physical I’ve ever coached. These guys left here at 12:30 and played another really difficult physical squad today, and they’re exhausted. It is critical that we heal, relax, refocus our minds and bodies, and have the opportunity to assault the NCAA tournament.

Q. Terry, Obviously not the desired outcome, but this week for you has been fantastic. I was just curious what you thought was clicking and how your mindset was going into the event.

Terrence Edwards, Jr.: Going into this competition, my mind is always on the team and wanting to achieve something as a collective. My attitude was to come here and win the title. Came up short. And, yes, I didn’t want to let down the guy to my right and the boys in the locker room.

Going in here, I simply put everything on the line. You may not always obtain the desired results, but if you persist, something wonderful will happen. As Coach said, we’re far from finished. We worked too hard to be here, and we’re just so happy that we were able to secure a slot, and we’ll hear our names called tomorrow, which is fantastic. I have never been a part of anything like that. I came from a mid-major where you must win your conference.

I’m obviously depressed, but it will feel wonderful to know that your name will be called tomorrow.

Q. Terry, I know you won’t make excuses, but how gruelling have the previous three days been, and how much did it weigh into the second half tonight?

TERRENCE Edwards, Jr.: It’s been tough. We played three excellent teams. Duke did the same thing, so there are no excuses in that regard. We’ve got the best coach in the country. He got us prepped and prepared for the occasion.

We were beaten up, just like every other team here, and we’re not going to use that as an excuse. That is exactly how it works in a tournament. You’ve probably got Friday-Sunday and Thursday-Saturday, so you’ll have to (indiscernible) on the following game.

Q: You mentioned hearing your name called. What does it feel like after the previous six months, nine months, or whatever it has been, to know what your name is going to be?

TERRENCE Edwards, Jr.: It’s going to feel fantastic. We all come here with one similar aim in mind: to hear our names called tomorrow. More importantly, compete in the competition. We believe we will be able to do it. We’ll achieve a lot that we don’t even realise since we’re so focused on the next thing.

The next step is to rest and prepare for practice next week. We don’t even consider what we’ve accomplished because we want more as a team and as a program, so it’s difficult to celebrate your victories when the season isn’t over, when there’s only one month remaining, and we’re still striving to get where we want to be. We aren’t satisfied.

Q. How will you use this tournament experience to prepare for the NCAA Tournament?

Terrence Edwards, Jr.: The physical aspect, as Coach said, is important. Guys don’t want to go home, so expect a new style of aggressiveness in March. Guys don’t want to leave, according to my experience playing in it last year. You’ve got seniors like myself out there who are willing to put everything on the line for both our squad and theirs. Guys do not want their collegiate careers to finish since they like playing in such an environment. Everyone will put their everything on the line, and anything is possible in March. That is what I learnt.

Q. Terrence, you mentioned that it was a difficult three days. I’m assuming you’re talking about Duke wearing you down in the second half, you and your teammates. You shoot 25% in the second half. What was Duke doing to wear you out and make the difference there?

TERRENCE EDWARDS, JR.: As I mentioned, they kept it physical. We already knew that, though. They are well-coached. They have good players. In a game like that, we need to take more control and throw people off, make catches, and earn them. We are aware of all of this. They just struck us in the mouth, and we have to absorb the hit and bounce back.

Q. Is there an update on Reyne Smith for next week?

PAT KELSEY: Yeah, Reyne will be ready for the NCAA Tournament. He’s extremely near today. We are excited. The medical personnel has done an incredible job. He has been working diligently on his rehabilitation and recuperation, but he will be ready to leave.

Q. Can you identify any specific actions taken by this team to turn things around? You certainly need players, but there has to be something else to go from 5 and 37 versus ACC opponents the prior two seasons to what you’ve done this year.

Pat Kelsey: We have a particular group. When I say “group,” you think of our players and our roster, but we have a term called “25 strong,” which refers to everyone in our organisation, including players, coaches, managers, and administrators, who do their jobs with incredible excellence every day, and when everyone does that, great things happen. That has just been the team’s approach.

We have a goal of attempting to have the best culture in the country, which we develop every day, and we believe that if we can achieve that, wonderful outcomes will follow naturally.

You have to battle for it every day because human nature seeps in, hardship seeps in, and success seeps in, and our players have been really constant in their attitude every day. They are winners. They are tough. You’ve seen how they struggled over the previous three days. Heck, throughout the past six months. They are a delight to coach.

I’m delighted to continue our adventure in the NCAA Tournament next week, but I believe it’s only in the minds and emotions of everyone in our organisation.

In the past six games, Q. Edwards has scored 24.8 points per game. When you combine him with Chucky’s accomplishments, you have greater variety and scoring coming into the NCAA Tournament. How can his growth and emergence help you go ahead here?

PAT KELSEY: He’s definitely on a tear. He is so much more than simply a scorer. I’m not sure what you mean by 24 points per game for the last however many games. You witnessed the exceptional young guy that he is. He’s an excellent leader. He’s developed into a great defender. That has been widely chronicled in Louisville media, simply his ascension on the defensive end, which I believe was one of the big drivers for our defence improving, and that is what has made us a very, really successful club.

Q. What factors contributed to Duke’s successful second-half surge to seize control?

PAT KELSEY: They fired it in. I am aware of this. Without studying the film, it appears that there were multiple possessions in which they were getting loose in transition and knocking down some open threes.

They haven’t shot especially well over the past two days of the tournament, but they’re a very excellent shooting team, and defending the three was our number one priority in the game. They make it difficult because they have strong players and a solid strategy, but oh dang, I felt like the ball was leaving their hands and going in, and it appeared that way for a while.

But they made shots, and you should applaud them. They deserved to win today. They were the superior team.

Q. What makes Duke’s defence so difficult to play against? Is it their length, on-ball pressure, or a mix of the two? They limited you to 25 percent in the second half, which really changed the game.

Pat Kelsey: Yes, all of it. Everything you have just stated. They have excellent pieces of suitable length and size. They are tough. They play quite hard. They are highly physical. They are well-coached. All of these factors contribute to their reputation as a top defensive club.

I need to go back and study the film to see how many excellent looks and open shots we had in the second half but didn’t convert. But you have to give Duke credit and a tip of the cap, especially in the second half when they turned up the heat. They performed an outstanding job, and we applaud them.

What are Pat Kelsey’s thoughts on Louisville’s NCAA Tournament seed?

Louisville has won 19 of its previous 20 regular season games and played in the ACC Tournament title game, leaving many asking why they were seeded eighth.

Louisville, Kentucky — Louisville is one of the most popular college basketball teams in the country.

The Cardinals finished the regular season by winning 19 of their final 20 games, finishing 13th in the AP Top 25 Poll, and reaching the ACC Tournament title game. Despite losing to No. 1 Duke, Louisville was prepared to return to the Big Dance for the first time in five years.

When tournament seedings were released on Sunday, Louisville received a No. 8 seed in the South Region, which had some scratching their heads and wondering if the NCAA selection committee got it right.

Pat Kelsey has been guiding Louisville on a successful “ReviVILLE” and chatted with Kentucky Sports Radio host Matt Jones about his team’s seeding.

“To be perfectly honest, watching the selection show – when it came up, it hurt a little. You feel little slighted. “It is what it is at the moment,” he remarked.

Pat Kelsey telling me he wasn’t happy with his the Cards’ seed pic.twitter.com/k2ujmJBRcT

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 17, 2025

Kelsey highlighted the numerous measures, and experts would have placed his squad in the fifth seed range.

Louisville upset ACC opponent Clemson twice, and the Tigers finished as the fifth seed in the Midwest Region.

The first-year coach is looking ahead and preparing for the upcoming game against Creighton, the No. 9 seed, in Lexington.

“We have to do a great job,” he remarked. “obviously Creighton is an explosive team, a dangerous team – extremely well coached as you guys know, and we’re excited about getting to work.”

Louisville is 1-2 all-time versus Creighton, with both defeats coming in NCAA tournament games. The two teams last played on March 11, 1999, when the Blue Jays beat the Cardinals 62-58 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Louisville has been picked as the No. 8 seed for the first time in 33 years.

Louisville and Creighton will face off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at 12:15 p.m.

Louisville secures commitment from local prospect Marlon Harbin

Marlon Harbin is the Cardinals’ second commitment at Louisville St. X High School.

Louisville has secured a commitment from local talent Marlon Harbin. The three-star recruit is the second Louisville St. X prospect to announce for the Cardinals in recent days, following linebacker Karsten Busch, who committed to UofL on March 7.

Harbin, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 175 pounds, joins Louisville’s 2026 recruiting class as the 10th member.

Harbin attended numerous games at U of L, and the faculty paid him a couple visits during his recruiting. He chose the Cardinals over many other scholarship offers, including Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), Toledo, and Missouri State.

One of the state’s premier schools, St. X seldom has many rookies play on varsity, much alone contribute straight away. Harbin had an instant impact as a freshman during the 2022 season, catching five receptions in the first two games, including three for 64 yards and a touchdown in the second game against Louisville Central.

Harbin caught 24 passes for 360 yards and three scores in 12 games for the Tigers that season. Harbin caught 60 catches as a sophomore, totalling 703 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 10 tackles, two interceptions, one touchdown return, and a kickoff return.

As a junior, Harbin caught 47 catches for 639 yards and six touchdowns and rushed 123 times for 704 yards and 12 touchdowns.

According to 247Sports, Harbin is the No. 39 athletic prospect nationally and the No. 7 overall prospect in Kentucky.

Louisville’s 2026 recruiting class now includes four in-state commitments: Harbin, Busch, Sam Dawson from Oldham County, and Max Merz from Fort Thomas Highlands.

Louisville basketball rode Fatt Edwards’ outstanding night to an eighth straight victory.

 

Terrence Edwards Jr.’s career-high 35 points were more than enough to propel Louisville basketball to another ACC win over west coast rival California.

Louisville’s senior backcourt had heroic performances in a series of hard-fought victories leading up to their late-night battle against California. When Wednesday’s game began, it looked like the trend would continue.

The game began with Terrence Edwards, Jr. and California graduate transfer player Jovan Blacksher, Jr. exchanging three-pointers, giving the Cards an early 8-6 lead. Edwards, Jr. was the lone Cardinal with a field goal for the most of the first half, hitting threes at 11:13, 7:50, and 7:20, with a great scoop and score in the middle at 10:40.

J’vonne Hadley, who had been limited to two free throws for the first thirteen minutes, hit a three with six minutes and twenty one seconds left in the first half, snapping his and the team’s field goal drought. During the following California possession, Noah Waterman blocked a DJ Campbell layup, resulting in a Cardinal fast break and another Hadley field goal at 5:50. The Cards were ahead by 27-22.

Terrence Edwards, Jr. received his third flagrant foul when Mady Sissoko attempted to step over him while he was attempting to stand up. Sissoko received a technical foul, but Edwards, Jr. had to sit. Up until this time, Edwards, Jr. had been the sole source of Louisville’s offence. The Bears were keeping pace with the Cards, fouls forced Coach Pat Kelsey to the bench, and there was still plenty of basketball to go.

Louisville basketball wakes awake.

Right on time, the remainder of the Cards awoke. Waterman hit a three after a fantastic shot fake at 2:55, extending the advantage to 34-24. James Scott hit a thunderous dunk with 80 seconds remaining in the first half. Chucky Hepburn, who had been frigid from the floor since setting a career high against Pittsburgh, sank a three with 48 seconds left. The Cardinals led 41-26 at halftime and held the Bears scoreless for eight minutes.

When the second half began, so did Louisville’s advantage. Hepburn would hit three more 90 seconds after the break, followed by another from Edwards, Jr. Hepburn was fouled on a made layup, which increased the score to 53-29 following the free throw. Cal would respond with back-to-back three-pointers, cutting the deficit to 53-37, but the Cards were always prepared.

Khani Rooths’ dunk put the Cards ahead 66-51. At 7:31, Hepburn delivered a huge lob to Rooths, causing the Yum! Centre to burst and give the Cards a 70-51 advantage. The Bears never recovered or threatened again, and Louisville won the game 85-68.

Photographs by Jared Anderson.

Getting ready for March

There was a lot to enjoy about this. For a club that has previously struggled defensively and given up early leads, this game appeared to go just as planned: the Cards took an early lead that gradually grew as the game progressed. They forced the Bears to go eight and four minutes without a field goal, allowing them to put the game out of reach and maintain it there.

When Louisville’s top, and only, scorer (Edwards, Jr.) departed the game in foul trouble, the rest of the squad took up where he had left off. Coach Kelsey’s emphasis on the next-man-up philosophy allowed the Cards to deploy a longer, faster lineup to disrupt the Bears in several ways when sharpshooter Reyne Smith exited due to a leg injury. Despite the rugged interior play of California’s players, the drama around the rim of Wednesday night’s game was how Scott lived above it (67 dunks this season).

What does winning mean for Louisville basketball?

After a string of games in which Terrence Edwards, Jr. and Chucky Hepburn carried the club to ugly victories, it was refreshing and exciting to see a more balanced effort in a game that never came close after the Cards extended their advantage to double digits. While the trend of a single player accounting for the majority of the team’s offence over long chunks of games is concerning, it’s comforting to know that Kelsey has individuals capable of doing so. What’s promising is that his defence has performed admirably, thwarting the Bears for extended chunks of both half.

During a break around the 15:54 minute, a graphic comparing legendary Coach Denny Crum’s debut season to what we’ve seen so far from Kelsey: Crum had twenty-six victories, an NCAA tournament berth, and a Final Four appearance. Kelsey has twenty-four wins and is undoubtedly destined for the big dance. In fact, four minutes into the first half, we witnessed him dancing with the rest of the squad.

How long will his first team dance?

At the ACC Coaches Call, Pat Kelsey talks about the ACC tournament and gives a preview of Cal

This week, No. 14 Louisville (23-6 overall, 16-2 ACC) will play two of the ACC’s newest members at home to wrap off the regular season. Before Stanford (19-10, 11-7) visits for a Saturday afternoon match, Cal (13-16, 6-12) will make an appearance at the KFC Yum! Centre on Wednesday night.

During his appearance on the ACC Coaches Call on Monday, UofL head coach Pat Kelsey talked about the upcoming game versus Cal, the ACC Tournament, and other topics.

This will just be the second time the two programs have met. The previous matchup occurred when Cal defeated Louisville, 77-62, to terminate the Cardinals’ season in the first round of the 2009–10 NCAA Tournament.

Cal defeated Boston College 82-71 at home on Saturday to end a five-game losing streak.

PK’s rigorous challenge will make or break Louisville’s basketball season

Pat Kelsey emphasised that the season is far from done, therefore there is no time to ponder. His squad is unable to linger on the past or guess on what lies ahead in the coming weeks, as the Cardinals play a big game against Pitt on Saturday. Kelsey is laser-focussed on ensuring that his squad is completely prepared for that game, and just that game.

Louisville basketball won only eight games last season and four the year before. Pat Kelsey has recently been asked a number of questions regarding his team’s performance, comeback, and what he has to say about the Cardinals’ success. Kelsey, on the other hand, does not enjoy reflecting on the season and has challenged the entire Cardinal population to do the same.

“There probably come a time in the offseason you can get above the trees and look back and appreciate the type of season that we’ve had, but now is not the time because we got three really tough games remaining at home, and the one we only care about is the one on Saturday.” “Kelsey stated Tuesday night.”

During their historic turnaround season, Kelsey repeatedly emphasises the significance of remaining present. While the team’s extraordinary trip is something to be proud of, he made it plain that now is not the time to reminisce. Kelsey’s approach is to focus on the present work at hand and to urge everyone not to get too caught up in the moment, remembering that there are still many games to be played.

“We really never talk about that.” Pat Kelsey commented on his team’s amazing comeback season. We do not talk about the past. We honour our past. We honour our past, as well as the outstanding players, teams, and championships that have emerged from this great school.

“When people claim the record was set last year, we never, ever discuss it. We constantly talk about ourselves, the present, and what we plan to do in the upcoming game.” Kelsey stated.

The Cardinals’ next game is March 1 at 6:00 p.m. local time versus Pitt. If the Cardinals win, they will be on a seven-game winning streak, have won 17 of their past 18 games, and will have the most ACC victories in a single season.

Nate Ament’s update provides an exquisite wider picture of Louisville basketball

Louisville’s basketball program is becoming a destination for four and five-star recruits, and this is becoming increasingly clear as the recruiting season progresses.

Louisville basketball is still among Nate Ament’s top five colleges, as reported yesterday.

The 6-foot-9, 185-pound small forward is a consensus 5-star recruit in the 2025 class, ranking unanimously fourth overall and second among shooting guards. The only tiny forward Ament trails is the top overall prospect, AJ Dybantsa.

Ament had a great junior season at Highland School, averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, and 3.7 assists per game. Louisville basketball, even among Ament’s last five institutions, is an accomplishment in and of itself.

Nate Ament’s desire in becoming a Louisville Cardinal offers a larger picture about Pat Kelsey and his program, and it is invaluable.

Louisville basketball has finally become an appealing destination for elite players.

Louisville’s basketball program is becoming a destination for four and five-star recruits, and this is becoming increasingly clear as the recruiting season progresses.

Louisville basketball signed 5-star talent and McDonald’s All-American Mikel Brown Jr., who is ranked eighth overall by On3 Sports, seventh overall by 247Sports, and eleventh in ESPN’s 100. Brown Jr. was the first domino to fall, and Cardinals supporters began to fantasise about the ideal pairing of Mikel Brown Jr. with Nate Ament and others.

Brown Jr. chose Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals over blue-blood institutions such as Kentucky and Kansas, as well as Alabama, the country’s current number four team.

Brown Jr. is excited to be a Cardinal, and he hopes to be one of the driving forces behind restoring Louisville basketball’s rich tradition. Brown’s pledge broke the prevailing notion that Louisville’s basketball program is no longer relevant or appealing to some of the finest prospects in the country.

UofL is on track to sign Tyran Stokes, the top recruit for the 2026 class. According to On3Sports, the Cardinals have a strong 66.8% probability of acquiring the consensus number one prospect.

Stokes had one official visit to Louisville in October 2024, and he went on to compete for Team USA U17 World Cup throughout the summer. During the World Cup, the 6-foot-7, 230-pound power forward averaged 12.3 points, seven rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks, earning All-Second Team honours.

Nate Ament has fuelled the trend of 5-star recruits wanting to play under Pat Kelsey and his Louisville Cardinals. Ament is one of the top emerging players in high school right now, with a chance to be a first-round NBA Draft choice in 2026.

Louisville basketball has fully shed its current stigma from the previous five years and is returning to prominence. The Cardinals’ turnaround in this recruitment area should lead to continued excellence for many years. Louisville basketball appears to be going back to the 2010s and being national title contenders, and Pat Kelsey and company have helped reclaim that narrative.

The University of Louisville’s ability to draw 5-star recruits is making it a top collegiate basketball destination. Ament allegedly wants to be a part of this squad because of Coach Carr and Pat Kelsey’s “enthusiasm” and the opportunity to collaborate with fellow 5-star prospect Mikel Brown Jr.

Even if Ament does not choose the Cardinals, the fact that he contemplated the school demonstrates that Pat Kelsey and the Louisville basketball program have a bright future ahead.