3 Massive reactions to J'Vonne Hadley returning to the Louisville Cardinals

Pat Kelsey can not be stopped. The Cardinals are having one of the best offseasons in the nation, as Kelsey has now brought in three top 15 prospects from the portal and will officially bring back a pivotal player from last season.

J'Vonne Hadley announced just a couple of hours ago that he will officially return to Louisville basketball next season. Hadley was a big question mark this offseason, as many fans were unsure if he would return, transfer, or retire from basketball.

The Cardinals senior averaged 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while also having an impressive shooting split. He shot 51.8 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from the 3-point line. Also, Hadley quickly became a fan favorite as he is seen hustling all over the floor and doing everything that doesn't show up on a stat sheet.

Hadley announced on his social media with a simple message.

"CardNation, let's run it back,"

3 massive reactions to J'Vonne Hadley returning to the Louisville Cardinals

So, now that the Louisville Cardinals are bringing back one of their key starters from last season, we are here to explain why this is so important for Louisville basketball and their 2025-26 season. The Cardinals were already ranked No. 3 in ESPN's and Fox Sports way-too-early rankings, and now, after this announcement, Louisville's depth keeps getting stronger and stronger.

Louisville has the third-best odds of winning the National Championship next season, and Hadley's return will only increase those odds. Now that it is official that the Cardinals will bring back their fifth-year senior, here are three massive reactions to J'Vonne Hadley returning to the Louisville Cardinals.

3. The Cardinals land their 3-and-D wing

Louisville basketball fans were begging for a small forward from the transfer portal, but with Hadley returning, they can scratch that need off their list. Hadley is technically listed as a guard, but he is a perfect build for a small forward as he has the ideal build to play small forward and the exact skills for that position.

Louisville basketball desperately needed a player who could rely on the defensive side, and that is precisely what they got from Hadley. He might be an undersized forward, but Hadley is 6-foot-6 and showed flashes of being an elite defender last season, especially when Chucky Hepburn was out.

Hadley averaged 0.7 steals per game last year and 0.9 steals per game in his career. While he might not secure the most steals or blocks in the league, he can lock down the opponent's best player. Last season, Hadley was matched up with elite talent all season long and repeatedly showed that he could be relied on as a 3-and-D wing. The Cardinals will bring elite shooters next season, but with Hadley returning, they no longer have to try to find that elite 3-and-D wing.

Last Season, Hadley knocked down 32 3-pointers on 38.1 percent. Louisville is losing roster space, so the Cardinals will run some small-ball lineups and put Hadley at a stretch four position. He isn't expected to splash three 3-pointers a game, but he averaged one 3-pointer a game last season, and that is all the Cardinals need from him.