The NCAA denied Louisville centre Aly Khalifa’s eligibility waiver

Khalifa, who redshirted the 2024-25 season to recover from a knee ailment, intends to appeal.

Louisville, Ky. – One of the Louisville men’s basketball program’s most anticipated contributors for the upcoming season may have to sit out.

The NCAA has refused centre Aly Khalifa’s application to extend his eligibility clock and play in the upcoming 2025-26 season, according to a statement released Thursday. Khalifa and Louisville want to appeal the judgement.

“University of Louisville men’s basketball student-athlete Aly Khalifa’s request for an extension of his five-year clock that would allow him to utilise his fourth and final season of eligibility was denied by the NCAA,” according to a statement.

“The University of Louisville is appealing the ruling, believing that Aly has a good case for an additional year. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Aly is pursuing a master’s degree at the University while preparing for the 2025-26 basketball season.

The 6-foot-11, 250-pound centre transferred from BYU last offseason but had to redshirt the 2024-25 season to recover from a knee ailment. Khalifa, who spent his first three years at Charlotte before joining the Cougars, also redshirted his true freshman season with the 49ers in 2020-21.

Khalifa’s waiver request aimed to extend his eligibility clock to six years after playing three seasons on the floor in five years. Under typical conditions, student-athletes have five years to complete four on-court seasons.

While the 2020-21 season saw a number of COVID-related waivers across collegiate athletics, none of them applied to Khalifa. Furthermore, Khalifa and Louisville could not just seek for a medical waiver during the 2024-25 season, as the waiver to prolong the eligibility clock had to come first, according to NCAA rules.

Khalifa lost approximately 50 pounds throughout his rehab journey this year, having weighed as much as 299 pounds before his official visit in April 2024. He was formally cleared to return to practice in January, although he was still unable to play in the 2024-25 season.

“Being cleared to play and being able to play at a high level are not the same thing,” Kelsey explained in January. “They can give you one or two possessions at a time.” It will take them time to get stronger, 100%.”

When fit, Khalifa is one of the best playmaking big men in the country. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged 4.0 assists to just 1.1 turnovers per game, with a 3.59 assist-to-turnover ratio that ranked eighth in Division I. He also averaged 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 31.5 percent on three-pointers.

“Aly is one of the best passing big men in basketball,” Kelsey stated last summer. “His assist-to-turnover ratio is amazingly positive. He plays the game with unusual intelligence and originality. He’s a high-IQ player who has had excellent coaching throughout his basketball career. Aly’s selflessness and desire to serve people extends beyond the court as well. He has a beautiful heart and a wonderful personality.”

He had his greatest season as a redshirt sophomore at Charlotte in 2022-23, when he averaged 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 34 starts. Khalifa, a redshirt freshman for the 49ers, was named Conference USA Rookie of the Year after averaging 7.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 32 appearances and 30 starts.

Louisville’s front court has taken a couple of heavy punches in recent weeks, and there are now some serious concerns. In addition to Khalifa being declared ineligible, centre James Scott decided to enter the transfer portal at the last minute in late April.

As a result, Kasean Pryor and Sananda Fru are the only true big men on the Cardinals’ roster. That being said, Pryor is coming off a ruptured ACL, while Fru is making the transition from playing overseas in Germany.



Matthew MCGAVIC

McGavic is a Derby City native who graduated from the University of Louisville’s Sport Administration program in 2016. He has been following the Cardinals in various positions since 2017, with a brief detour in Atlanta, Georgia, on the Georgia Tech beat. He also co-hosts the ‘From The Pink Seats’ podcast for the State of Louisville network. Video gamer, bourbon enthusiast, and puppy lover. Follow him on Twitter: @Matt_McGavic.