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5 transfers who would be good fit for Louisville basketball

By Jacob Lane

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 25: Landers Nolley II #2 of the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrates a shot during a first round Maui Invitation game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 25, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 25: Landers Nolley II #2 of the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrates a shot during a first round Maui Invitation game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 25, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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SYRACUSE, NY – JANUARY 07: Landers Nolley II #2 of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts to a made basket against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome on January 7, 2020 in Syracuse, New York. Virginia Tech defeated Syracuse 67-63. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – JANUARY 07: Landers Nolley II #2 of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts to a made basket against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome on January 7, 2020 in Syracuse, New York. Virginia Tech defeated Syracuse 67-63. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

Landers Nolley II – Wing

Virginia Tech, RS freshman

2019-20 stats: 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists 

Following the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament and spring sports at the collegiate level, we expected it would only be a matter of time before big names players began to announce their intentions to transfer.

After a breakout redshirt freshman season where he led Virginia Tech in scoring, no one expected Landers Nolley II to become one of the biggest names on the market, but here we are.

Nolley II has had a bit of a roller coaster of a career thus far after nearly transferring last offseason following the departure of then-head coach Buzz Williams before ultimately returning to play under Mike Young. The Hokies got out to a surprisingly hot start to their season, exceeding their preseason expectations, before crashing late and finishing at the bottom of the ACC.

He’d go on to finish as part of the ACC All-Freshman team and earned honorable mention on the All-ACC team for the 2019 season, but ultimately decided to put his name in the portal and finish the remainder of his career elsewhere.

Nolley II began hearing from just about every major program following his announcement, including from Chris Mack and Louisville, and now will have to make his way through the re-recruiting process.

It would make sense why the Cards would have an interest in a player as dynamic as Nolley II. Louisville will be looking to fill the scoring production left behind by the departing upperclassmen next season, and it’s expected that Samuell Williamson and incoming signee Jay Scrubb will do that in 2020-21.

With Nolley II having to sit out for a full season (his second in three years) to satisfy the NCAA’s transfer rules, he’d likely step into the star spot as Chris Mack’s primary scoring option in 2021-22.

Nolley is a high-level shooter, especially from deep, who has the ability to fill it up quickly which was evident in 2019 in the nine games he scored 20 or more points. His size allows him to play both out on the wing, where he shot 32 percent last season, as well as inside where he has shown the ability to post up smaller defenders.

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