Former Louisville center Roosevelt Wheeler announced his decision to leave the University of Louisville basketball program on March 17, 2023. He entered his name into the transfer portal and has been weighing his options now for about a month now.
Louisville sophomore F/C Roosevelt Wheeler has entered the transfer portal! Wheeler averaged 1.2 ppg, and 2.0 rbg in 2022-23.
— 247Sports (@247Sports) March 17, 2023
Follow all the portal activity here! https://t.co/LEQMUNNNW0 pic.twitter.com/YAwCOyADC4
The former four-star recruit came to Louisville as a member of the Class of 2021, which means that he was here under the old Chris Mack regime. Upon Kenny Payne’s arrival, he did not decide to transfer immediately but instead chose to play out a season under his new head coach.
However, after a 4-28 season, he decided it was time to move on and start fresh. Today, he announced his commitment to VCU or Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU is located in Richmond, Virginia, which is also Wheeler’s hometown.
Louisville transfer and former John Marshall top-100 star, Roosevelt Wheeler, is coming home! pic.twitter.com/dE3bHUbD96
— Ram Nation (@VCURamNation) April 18, 2023
Not only does he get to continue playing the sport he loves, but he gets to do it in front of his hometown fans. Last season with the Cardinals, the 6-foot-10 big man averaged 1.2 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game, and 0.1 assists per game in his bench role duties.
Wheeler never found his niche in the Louisville offense as a whole, and starting afresh was best for both sides. Louisville opened up a scholarship and now he can play in front of his hometown crowd. It’s a win-win situation.
Roosevelt Wheeler now becomes the fourth Cardinal to find a new home, joining Kamari Lands, who committed to Arizona State, El Ellis, who committed to Arkansas, and Jae’Lyn Withers, who committed to North Carolina.