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Louisville basketball recruiting: It’s not time to panic

By Jacob Lane

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 14: Head coach Chris Mack of the Louisville Cardinals looks on against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 14: Head coach Chris Mack of the Louisville Cardinals looks on against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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SYRACUSE, NY – FEBRUARY 20: Malik Williams #5 of the Louisville Cardinals shoots the ball against the defense of Elijah Hughes #33 of the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on February 20, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – FEBRUARY 20: Malik Williams #5 of the Louisville Cardinals shoots the ball against the defense of Elijah Hughes #33 of the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on February 20, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

The returning players for 2020-2021 allow for flexibility

First, Louisville has a loaded roster slated to return for the 2020-2021 season (I know it’s hard to focus on that when the 2019 season hasn’t even started yet) allowing for Chris Mack to maintain some flexibility moving forward after missing on multiple top players.

Darius Perry, David Johnson, and Josh Nickelberry will all return at the guard position giving Louisville three very different, yet versatile options to play guard.

At the wing and big man spots, you will likely return Samuell Williamson along with Jae’Lyn Withers, Quinn Slasiznki, Aidan Igiehon, and Malik Williams. That gives Mack a versatile core of talent to work with and allows for him to be sure he gets the right guy in the fold.

While that’s not the same as what Chris Mack is returning this season with guys like Jordan Nwora and Steven Enoch, the Cardinals will absolutely still have a core group capable of making a run deep into the tournament with the right pieces around them.

Consider that players who are cutting Louisville from their list right now are guys who want to come in and start or play right away. Given the tremendous depth that Louisville has this year, and the talent they are probably returning in 2020-2021, there is no way Mack can guarantee playing time to anyone at this juncture.

That is a key to bear in mind when comparing the Cards’ recruiting class to those at North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, and others who have a ton of minutes to hand out year after year.

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