5 transfers who would be good fit for Louisville basketball

EJ Anosike – Forward

Stony Brook, Junior

2019 season stats:15.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists 

One player who really seemed to develop into a favorite of Louisville basketball head coach Chris Mack over his two seasons playing for the Cards was Dwayne Sutton, and who could blame him?

We all love Sutton for his hard-nosed, blue-collar, Louisville-like worth-ethic on top of the fact that he is 502 born and raised. His play from the time he transferred from UNC Asheville stole the heart of fans, and after arriving at Louisville from Xavier, did the same to Mack.

Sutton’s work ethic and determination to outplay everyone in front of him, regardless of size, weight, status, or anything else that defines a good college basketball player, willed the Cards at time.

“He only cares about one thing, that’s winning”

“I wish we had 13 Dwayne Sutton’s.”

My favorite quote about Sutton from Mack came after the win over USC Upstate this season. He said:

"“Dwayne got recruited by a school like USC Upstate. I asked him in the locker room in front of his teammates how many Division 1 offers did you have coming out of high school, he said three. It just shows what heart, will, competitive character and a kick-ass attitude can do for a kid. 15 rebounds, 15. He’s not 6’9, he’s 6’5. He doesn’t look much different than a lot of the kids guarding him tonight. HE’s a warrior. WARRIOR. We need more of those on our team.”"

So what does Dwayne Sutton have to do with E.J. Anosike? Well, if you’re looking for a player who can fill the exact role that the redshirt senior played this past season for Louisville, it’s Anosike of Sacred Heart.

Anosike entered the transfer portal earlier this week after playing three seasons at Sacred Heart of the Northeast Conference, averaging career totals of 11.6 points and eight rebounds per game as the team’s leading guard.

At 6’6, 245-pounds, Anosike is built and plays much as Sutton did for Louisville. He’s a relentless attacker who makes a living scoring around the rim by bullying smaller players with his frame and finishing above the rim as a rebounder.

There definitely isn’t anything about Anosike that will wow you in terms of NBA athleticism or playmaking ability, but what he could bring to the table for Mack would be greatly needed. Versatility, rebounding, defense, intensity, shooting, above the rim finishing, and much more.

He literally does everything.

Rivals Basketball Recruiting Analyst Corey Evans called Anosike “arguably the most productive and efficient prospect” to make his top graduate transfer list in which he wrote:

"He is coming off a resounding season at Sacred Heart in which he led his team in scoring, rebounding, free throw attempts and field goals made. The New Jersey native is a bit of a tweener position-wise, but he would fit in well as a small-ball power forward for a high-major program in his final season."

Louisville has a unique set of returnees that will allow for Mack to play a ton of unique and versatile lineups with guys like David Johnson, Jae’Lyn Withers, and Malik Williams. At 6’6, Anosike can blend right into that, playing the two all the way through the four, providing scoring as needed as well as a high level of defense and rebounding necessary to make situational and unique lineups work.