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Louisville basketball: Five burning questions entering 2019-20

By Will Reddington

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 09: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals shoots over De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on March 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 09: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals shoots over De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on March 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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MARIETTA, GA – MARCH 25: (L- R) Samuell Williamson, Nico Mannion, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl react during the 2019 Powerade Jam Fest on March 25, 2019 in Marietta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images for Powerade)
MARIETTA, GA – MARCH 25: (L- R) Samuell Williamson, Nico Mannion, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl react during the 2019 Powerade Jam Fest on March 25, 2019 in Marietta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images for Powerade) /

Is Samuell Williamson the freshman Louisville has been waiting for?

Louisville has more returning talent than almost anybody in the entire country. You know what you’re going to get night in and night out from most of this Cardinals team. But the guy that could put them over the top and keep them as a true national title contender all season is Samuell Williamson.

Louisville historically hasn’t been a program that’s had many “one and done” style freshmen. V.J. King was the Cards’ most recent and Samardo Samuels ten years ago was probably the most immediately productive. Williamson could be what this Louisville program has been waiting for, and really hasn’t had for the last few decades as far as an instant-impact freshman.

The 6’7,” 200 pound shooting guard from Rockwall, Texas has all the tools to thrive at the next level. Williamson has the things you can’t teach: size, athleticism and natural quickness. With a coach like Chris Mack polishing the rest of his craft, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to gradually improve throughout this long season.

Williamson will likely start the season playing “starters” minutes while not necessarily starting the game for Louisville. But as the season develops, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Williamson develop into a full-time starter alongside Enoch, Sutton, Nwora, and Kimble/Perry. This Louisville team has depth, multiple guys that can score and defensive chemistry.

But they need another takeover the game type of guy outside of Nwora. Samuel Williamson could it, the Cardinals will need him to be live up these hefty expectations.

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