Chris Mack Going After Talented Big Men for Louisville in 2019

 The Cards are getting ready for the future under Chris Mack and his staff. So far, Mack has shown no fear in recruiting even some of the more prominent names out there.

It’s no secret that where Louisville lacks the most depth and strength is in their frontcourt. We’ve seen Chris Mack hit the ground running in the short time he’s been here when it comes to recruiting, and the guys he’s offered as of late are potential game changers.

Of course there are many players Louisville has shown interest in, but I’m gonna tell you about three of them who have received offers. Two of them are very high on the list for coaches and fans alike, and one just came on the radar who could end up being a major get.

Heading into the 2019-20 season, the Cardinals will be growing long in the tooth in the front court, therefore finding a few big men in the 2019 recruiting class will be crucial.

At this point there are only two “true” big men on the Louisville roster. Akoy Agau, who committed to the program over the weekend for his final season (we’ll see, I’m not convinced that he’s not going to play college basketball forever), will be gone after this season, and UConn transfer Steven Enoch will be heading into his senior season. Malik Williams and Dwayne Sutton will both be back (so we assume) for the 19-20 season, however both are more untraditional big men, who do different things, and don’t really play only inside.

With that being said, we put together a couple names to watch over the coming months on the recruiting front.

Jaelyn Withers

The 6’8″ 215 pound power forward out of North Carolina is a four-star prospect with huge upside and elite athleticism. This guy is a great all-around player, but where he excels is on the defensive end. He blocks shots, his motor never stops, and he has the ability to step out and guard on the perimeter.

Offensively, Withers has a decent three point stroke, and he can create shot opportunities for himself almost anywhere on the floor. Check out his highlights and you’ll see just how explosive he is. He doesn’t play much with his back to the basket, but the next year could change that if he adds some more weight to his frame.

A lot of teams play small lineups in the ACC. I can see Withers taking advantage of smaller guys in the post, whether he’s finishing around them for an and-one, or shooting the mid-range over top of them. According to CardinalAuthority’s Michael McCammon, his visit with the Cards went very well, even going as far as saying Coach Chris Mack was “cool people,” and there’s a great chance he ends up at Louisville.

Aidan Igiehon

This 6’10”, 215 pound five-star recruit has recently been spending a lot of time with Josh Nickelberry. That name sound familiar? That’s because he’s committed to the Cards next year, and he’s working hard to get more elite guys to join him. Igiehon is a top 20 player nationally, and it’s a good thing Louisville jumped on him early, because Kentucky and Duke are hot on his trail.

Aidan Igiehon is the player I believe would make the biggest impact should Chris Mack and staff be able to land him. There’s only one way to put it: this kid is a BEAST. He is a physical specimen. I could bore you with numbers and stats, but the bottom line is Igiehon straight up dominates his competition.

He’s got good footwork and is an efficient scorer around the basket, as well as being a relentless rebounder. With a self-described underdog mentality, he simply outworks everyone else. His shooting stroke is a work in progress, but it looks like in time he will develop a reliable mid-range game. That would make him pretty much unguardable.

To top it all off, he’s a humble kid who plays with heart and passion, and never stops wanting to improve himself – a coaches dream. If Mack and Nickelberry can get Igiehon to the Ville, watch for him to become an instant fan favorite.

Qudus Wahab

According to Jeff Greer, the 6’10” 230 pound center out of Virginia took an unofficial visit to Louisville yesterday. An offer followed soon after.

Currently ranked as a four-star prospect, Wahab is another guy that is currently a bit more under the radar but is sure to start picking up interest across the board. Other ACC schools like Syracuse, Virginia Tech, and Clemson have already offered.

His game is still a bit raw offensively, but he has shown the ability to post up and finish through contact around the basket. Defensively, his length causes problems especially at the rim. He’s shown great potential to become an elite shot blocker. He runs the floor well and is comfortable playing with his back to the basket.

Qudus Wahab will likely be a five-star player by the time he graduates, and Louisville would be more than lucky to have him.

Chris Mack seems to be coming in early and often with these recruits. Hopefully, being one of the first ones to reach out gives him a leg up on one or more of these elite players. Any one of them would be a great addition for the Cardinals.

Also, keep in mind, that several of these recruits had an existing relationship with Coach Mack from his time at Xavier. Now with him being at a bigger program, with more selling points on the recruiting trail, expect for him to come up big in 2019.

Next: 3 Reasons Akoy Agau is a Big Addition