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Louisville basketball: Ten former Cardinals for “The Basketball Tournament”

By Presley Meyer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 31: (L-R) Russ Smith #2 and Peyton Siva #3 of the Louisville Cardinals answers questions from the media during their post game press conference following their win against the Duke Blue Devils during the Midwest Regional Final round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 31, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 31: (L-R) Russ Smith #2 and Peyton Siva #3 of the Louisville Cardinals answers questions from the media during their post game press conference following their win against the Duke Blue Devils during the Midwest Regional Final round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 31, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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BIRMINGHAM, AL – MARCH 21: Taquan Dean #5 of the University of Louisville Cardinals dribbles during the NCAA Tournament against the Austin Peay State University Governors at the Birmingham Civic Center on March 21, 2003 in Birmingham, Alabama. Louisville defeated Austin Peay 86-64. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Taqwa Pinero (Taquan Dean)

Taqwa Pinero is a player with a fascinating story, who would bring depth, experience, and leadership to a Louisville TBT squad.

He spent the first 32 years of his life as Taquan Dean before a DNA test revealed that Dean’s father was not his biological one. Soon after this life-altering moment, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Taqwa Pinero.

Pinero has spent his entire career having a ton of success overseas everywhere from Spain to Turkey to France. He is a true journeyman who still is getting buckets at the professional level at the age of 35.

Pinero would be the veteran this team needs to right the ship, and to me, there’s no one better suited for the job. After the Cards’ appearance in the 2004 Final Four, Dean helped the team through a rebuilding season in their first year in the Big East after losing Francisco Garcia, carrying the team almost singlehandedly to the NIT Championship game.

Though it’s unlikely Pinero would play serious minutes at this point in his career, it would be interesting to see him get his name and his story out there again on a national stage in America.

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