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Louisville basketball: Darius Perry 2018-19 year in review

By Ross Prophater

LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 27: Chris Mack the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to Darius Perry #2 during the 82-78 OT win over the Michigan State Spartans at KFC YUM! Center on November 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 27: Chris Mack the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to Darius Perry #2 during the 82-78 OT win over the Michigan State Spartans at KFC YUM! Center on November 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Darius Perry, Louisville basketball
LOUISVILLE, KY – NOVEMBER 12: Darius Perry #2 of the Louisville Cardinals drives to the basket during the second half of the game between the Louisville Cardinals and the George Mason Patriots at KFC YUM! Center on November 12, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

So, what’s next?

In every off season, there’s always moving parts. There’s currently 7 new players expected to join next year’s team with the six freshmen along with grad transfer Lamarr “Fresh” Kimble. There are talks that another grad transfer could be joining the 2019-2020 Louisville Cardinals team, but nothing confirmed as of yet. So we wait to see how it all shakes out.

As it stands now, someone from this years team is going to have to leave to make room for the incoming talent. Louisville basketball will get back three scholarships they lost to NCAA sanctions, and have another three open with the departures of Christen Cunningham, Khwan Fore and Akoy Agau. The most likely scenarios at the moment appear to be either Jordan Nwora or Steven Enoch turn pro, or VJ King becomes a grad transfer and finds a new start somewhere else.

Even after a scenario where 3 additional scholarships could come open, there are still whispers that Darius Perry could be a candidate to transfer. I for one hope that isn’t true. I think based upon what we saw this season, Darius is primed to be a big time contributor next season. As mentioned before, whatever the reasons were for Chris Mack not playing Perry most of the season, the light seemed to of come on for Perry at the end of the year.

Next. Louisville basketball quietly pumping out serious NBA talent. dark

Another thing to take into consideration is Chris Mack’s best teams going back to his tenure at Xavier were those lead and driven by upperclassmen, particularly at the guard position. If you assess Mack’s comments about Perry from the beginning of the year, throughout the year, til season’s end, it appears Perry was one that Coach Mack expected a lot from, and he wasn’t going to cut any corners for his rising junior guard. He was trying to groom him to be the player he needs and expects him to be going forward into next season.

So was Darius Perry’s Sophomore season a slump? Maybe. A year wasted? Definitely not! You can get me on record right now. You heard it here first: Darius Perry is going to be an animal, and an absolute fan favorite next season. Mark my words.

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