The Cardinals' 2024-25 season broke many records but was cut short when Louisville fell to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Now, it is time for the coaches to browse the transfer portal and immediately try to recruit and replace their seniors.
The transfer portal was thrilling in the first four days as elite players from all over the country entered. Kelsey has stated that they are constantly checking the portal to see who has entered to prove that they are trying to land the perfect target to elevate this team to an elite program in college basketball.
Kelsey has shown early that he is all-in on finding that lethal shooter in the portal and a key perimeter defender. The Cardinals know for sure that Chucky Hepburn, Terrence Edwards Jr., Reyne Smith, and a few others will not return next year as they all ran out of eligibility.
Head coach Pat Kelsey has shown he is an elite recruiter in the transfer portal. Last season, he landed 12 players in the portal, including the team's top three scorers.
It is uncertain who will enter the transfer portal, but Korean Johnson is the only player who has entered it as of now. That is unlikely to be the case for the remainder of the transfer portal. So, the coaching staff needs to find a way to ensure these three players don't leave this program and play for Pat Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals next season.
3 Cardinals that Louisville basketball must bring back for the 2025-26 season
3. Kasean Pryor
Kaseasn Pryor showed this past season that he has the potential to be an elite lob threat on one end but a massive rim protector on the other end. Louisville's center suffered a torn ACL in November, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season.
Pryor was a huge part of this Cardinals team before his injury. He averaged 12 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks while shooting a little below 40 percent from the floor. Under Kelsey, he has massive potential to be an elite center and would be an excellent starting center for Louisville next season. Although he only played a handful of games for the Cardinals last season, it is evident how important he was to Kelsey's lineup.
He played six full games last season, securing double-digits in points in three of those games and scoring 15 points or more in two. His season high came against Bellarmine when he scored 21 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one block, and one rebound. He connected on two threes and showed he can splash a couple a game if left wide open.
His ability to score is what separates him from James Scott. The Cardinals must keep Pryor on this roster for next year to have that elite rim protector and defender, but to also have a scorer on the offensive side as well.