1. Stefan Vaaks
Louisville lost a lot from its backcourt this offseason, as Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell, Isaac McKneely, and Kobe Rodgers will all not return. That left London Johnson and hopefully Adrian Wooley to return, assuming they don’t enter the portal, which means Pat Kelsey needs to go find his sharpshooter.
The top player that should be on Kelsey’s list is the Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks. The 4-star transfer is the unanimous No. 1 overall player in the Transfer Portal, and is the top-ranked shooting guard at 6-foot-7, 205 pounds. Last season with the Friars, Vaaks averaged 15.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists and made 2.9 3’s per game on 35 percent shooting from downtown and 40.8 percent from the field.
With his height and size, he is more than just a 3-point shooter; he attacks the rim, can hit mid-range jumpers and floaters, and has the tools for a sharpshooter as well. He comes off screens hard and sets his feet and can knock down 3’s, as he made five or more 3’s in six games last season, and made eight 3’s in the Big East Tournament against Butler. Vaaks is an elite playmaker and scorer, and Kelsey should be contacting him immediately.