Louisville basketball learned Wednesday evening that the Cardinals will lose Kasean Pryor to the Transfer Portal. The former USF transfer spent two seasons with the Cards, but after suffering a torn ACL and limited playing time this past season, Pryor decided to exit.
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Many fans expected this, as the 6-year senior participated in Senior Day, so many expected Pryor to either enter the portal or try to go pro. He ultimately decided to enter the portal and will now seek his fifth college team, as well as a seventh year of eligibility.
With Pryor gone, and Louisville now losing five forwards this offseason to the Transfer Portal and nine of its top 10 players from this past season, Kelsey will have to attack his frontcourt. So, here are five forwards Louisville basketball must target after Kasean Pryor enters the Transfer Portal.
Donnie Freeman
Now, this is a long shot, but if Louisville wants to try and spoil Kentucky, they could start targeting Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman. Kentucky recently earned a visit from the 4-star transfer, but Louisville is in need of a power forward at the moment, and if they want to aim big, Freeman is one of the best on the market.
The Syracuse transfer is coming off a dominant season with the Orange and is a physical forward who impacts both ends of the floor. He averaged 16.5 points while shooting 47.4 percent from the field, as well as  7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game.
Freeman scored 20 points or more eight times this past season and is now one of the best power forwards in the portal. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward ranks No. 14 overall and No. 4 among power forwards.
Thomas Dowd
One power forward the Cardinals have shown interest in and have contacted is the Troy transfer Thomas Dowd. While many expected Pryor to enter the portal, Louisville will want to now attack a stretch-four who could space out the court for Kelsey and this offense.
Dowd emerges as an excellent target for this need as at 6-foot-8, 225-pounds, he was a dominant forward this past season who nearly did it all. Dowd earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt First-Team after logging 17 double-doubles and scoring 20 points or more six times.
He averaged 14.4 points, while making 68 3-pointers on 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, as well as averaging 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. The 4-star transfer ranks as high as No. 82 overall and No. 19 among power forwards.
DeSean Goode
One power forward the Cardinals reached out to, who Louisville fans have made it clear they are interested in, is the Robert Morris transfer, DeSean Goode. The 4-star transfer plays similarly to J’Vonne Hadley as he is a physical forward who can back his defender down, but also slash through the paint and get open for an easy bucket.
Goode had an impressive season last year, averaging 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 63 percent from the field and making 36 3’s and shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward ranks as high as a 4-star transfer and No. 63 overall and No. 16 among power forwards.
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Paulius Murauskas
Someone who would be a dream Kasean Pryor replacement is the Saint Mary’s transfer, Paulius Murauskas. The 4-star transfer is coming off a dominant season in which he ranked in the top three in both total points and efficient field goal percentage.
Murauskas averaged an impressive 18.4 points after he scored 20 points or more in 15 games and 30 points or more in two games. He also added 7.6 rebounds per game, and earned First-Team All-West Coast Conference Team. Louisville was at once the frontrunner for the 4-star transfer, but Arizona State has emerged as a team with which the Cardinals are battling it out for Murauskas
Murauskas ranks as high as No. 9 overall and No. 4 among power forwards in the Transfer Portal.
Alvaro Folgueiras - PF
The power forward Louisville fans are keeping a close eye on is the Iowa transfer, Alvaro Folgueiras. Louisville currently has a 100 percent chance of landing Folgueiras' commitment, according to On3 Sports, as the Iowa transfer emerges as the potential next commitment for Kelsey from the portal.
The 4-star transfer started his career at Robert Morris, where he played two seasons. His best season came in his sophomore campaign, when he averaged 14.1 points while shooting 55 percent from the field and making 45 3’s on 41 percent from beyond the arc.
With Iowa this past season, he averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds and shot exactly 50 percent from the field. He had a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament, posting two 14-point performances in the first two rounds and a 16-point performance in the Sweet Sixteen. He now ranks as a 4-star transfer, No. 53 overall and No. 13 among power forwards.
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