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Louisville basketball: 5 most intriguing recruits for 2021

By Jacob Lane

LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 25: Steven Enoch #23, Jordan Nwora #33, Darius Perry #2 and Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals take the floor in the second half of a game against the Clemson Tigers at KFC YUM! Center on January 25, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Clemson 80-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 25: Steven Enoch #23, Jordan Nwora #33, Darius Perry #2 and Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals take the floor in the second half of a game against the Clemson Tigers at KFC YUM! Center on January 25, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Clemson 80-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – DECEMBER 06: Samuell Wiliiamson #10, Quinn Slazinski #11 and Josh Nickelberry #20 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrate during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at KFC YUM! Center on December 06, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – DECEMBER 06: Samuell Wiliiamson #10, Quinn Slazinski #11 and Josh Nickelberry #20 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrate during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at KFC YUM! Center on December 06, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Eric van der Hejiden – Combo forward

My favorite player in the class of 2021 for Louisville basketball is without question Bobby Pettiford Jr. The recruit I want to see the team land most is five-star wing Harrison Ingram. I’ve got superlatives for days, but if you ask me who the biggest “dark-horse” recruit is or the guy not being talked about enough, it’s wing Eric Van Der Hejiden.

Although there are multiple other wings on the board ranked ahead of Van Der Hejiden, who 247 Sports rates as the 72nd best player nationally and the 15th best small forward, he may have the most unique skillset out of any player that Chris Mack has recruited during his time at Louisville.

At 6’9, van der Hejiden plays as a “point-forward” possessing the ability to not only score on the wing but handle the ball and initiate offense and pass the ball at a high level. He’s an extremely smooth player who has great touch on his shot and has the ability to score from just about anywhere on the floor. He can play the three or four at the college level, and while he’ll need to add more weight to be able to rebound at a high-level, he’ll be able to contribute as a scorer and ball-handler right away.

He’s a match up nightmare in a lot of ways as opposing coaches will have a hard time finding someone tall enough and quick enough to guard a player who is not only athletic but also savvy both on and off the ball. There’s a sense of Gordon Hayward to his game and because of his unique traits he’s a player who is worth watching for the class of 202

What makes the rising senior so interesting to me is how quickly things have moved between him and Louisville since Chris Mack offered back in June. Just weeks after officially extending a scholarship, van der Hejiden included Louisville in his final 10 schools leading many to connect on the dots on the interest level between them.

Ingram is without question the top wing with fellow four-star’s Malakhi Branham and Aminu Mohammed behind him but don’t sleep on van der Hejiden and his potential as a three or four year player.

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