Big Red Louie
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Louisville basketball: Three forwards who could replace Bryce Hopkins

By Jacob Lane

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 08: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville basketball program celebrates making a three point shot 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: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville basketball program celebrates making a three point shot 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) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 19: V.J. King #13 of the Louisville Cardinals in action against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Hank McCamish Pavilion on January 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 19: V.J. King #13 of the Louisville Cardinals in action against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Hank McCamish Pavilion on January 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /

Michael James – Wing

6’6, 195-pounds – Orlando, FL

One player who I’ve been very intrigued with since Chris Mack and the Louisville basketball program offered is four-star forward, Michael James.

Mack’s teams have always been defined by their toughness and athleticism, and if there’s anything that the four-star forward out of Orlando, Florida brings to the court, it’s those two things.

James has been on the Louisville radar for a few months now, as an offer was extended officially back in May following a breakout season playing for Oak Ridge High School. The offers came pouring in for the 6’6 forward following a campaign that saw him average 18.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, as programs like Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, North Carolina State, and Virginia Tech have all taken a liken to his play.

It’s not hard to see why Mack and assistant coach Mike Pegues have had so much interest in James, as he’s a versatile two-way forward, who is just as deadly when attacking the paint off the bounce as he is when pulling up from deep. Unlike we’ve seen with most of the Louisville basketball recruits thus far in the Chris Mack era, James is a big-bodied wing at 6’6, 200 pounds who already has a physique made to withstand the college game.

Using his speed and athleticism, James relies on his ability to get to the rim off the bounce to create offense which typically allows him to open things up and get more looks from the field. While he’s still a bit raw as a primary scorer, his ability to get buckets efficiently was on full display this past season when he shot 53 percent from the field and nearly 42 percent from deep.

I expect the pressure to be turned up on James over the coming months following Louisville making his final list and Bryce Hopkins backing away from his commitment. With Eric Van Der Hejiden in the fold for 2021, Coach Mack has the size needed should he decide to go with a true wing player to which James could be the perfect fit.

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