Louisville basketball: Class of 2021 recruiting big board 1.0

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 05: David Johnson #13, Samuell Williamson #10, Quinn Slazinski #11 and Aidan Igiehon #22 of the Louisville Cardinals react from the bench during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at KFC YUM! Center on February 5, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 86-76. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 05: David Johnson #13, Samuell Williamson #10, Quinn Slazinski #11 and Aidan Igiehon #22 of the Louisville Cardinals react from the bench during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at KFC YUM! Center on February 5, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 86-76. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 08: Samuell Williamson #10 of the Louisville Cardinals dunks the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on February 08, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 08: Samuell Williamson #10 of the Louisville Cardinals dunks the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on February 08, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)

Small forward

Louisville is at an interesting position at the wing spot because of the uncertainty with how things may play out with current commits and players already on the roster.

Samuell Williamson is a natural three, and if he doesn’t bolt for the league after his sophomore season, the 6’7″ wing will already have the position locked down.

Additionally, incoming freshman D’Andre Davis projects to be an undersized forward who could be playing Robin to Williamson’s Batman for the next two years. Outside of that, the Cards have a 2021 commit in Bryce Hopkins, who is listed as a four but could certainly slide over to the three as well.

With all of that said, Williamson could be gone after this year and Hopkins may find a better fit at the four, and basketball is truly a positionless game in this day and age.

At this point, Louisville appears to be swinging for the fences with one guy who could come in and change a lot at the two and three spots.

Aminu Mohammed

Washington DC

One of the better prospects in the class of 2021, 6’4″ 175-pound Aminu Mohammed has Louisville after him hard. He would almost undoubtedly be Louisville basketball’s first true one-and-done player and would be an instant impact starter from day one.

Here’s what Jerry Meyer of 247Sports has to say about Mohammed, who he likens to Justice Winslow:

"Not long for a wing but has a big, strong build. Can overwhelm opponents with strength and athleticism. Plays with great energy. Competes everywhere on the court. Good ball handler and passer. Scoring off the dribble is his greatest strength. Developing long range shooter. Quality rebounder and defender. Should develop into an first-round NBA draft choice."

When you watch Mohammed, the first thing that stands out is that he is smooth with the ball and has fantastic basketball instincts. He gets to the basket at-will and overpowers opponents in the lane.

Indiana and Maryland are after Mohammed hard, and there will certainly be other big-name schools vying for his services before it’s all said and done. However, Louisville is in a very good place with Mohammed, and he would be a player that would silence any critics of Chris Mack’s recruiting skills.