1. Isaac McKneely
Louisville basketball landed three massive transfer portal targets this offseason, including Isaac McKneely. The combo guard transfer from Virginia is one of the most lethal shooters from beyond the arc in the nation. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard averaged over 14 points per game last season and made 3.5 3-pointers on 42.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Hadley returning to Louisville helps McKneely out for a couple of reasons. First, Hadley's return should end rumors or speculation that McKneely will play the small forward position. He might get some minutes in that position, but now that the Cardinals have Conwell and Hadley, McKneely should only have to focus on the shooting guard position. This is a big deal because a shooting guard playing the small forward position is much different and brings on much more tasks. While McKneely has the skills and tools to play the small forward position, Kelsey and the Cardinals want their new sharpshooter to be the dominant 3-point specialist he was for Virginia.
McKneely is expected to be a Reyne Smith replacement, and whether he comes off the bench or starts, he only has to worry about being the sharpshooter Louisville needs. Hadley's return will also help McKneely if the two are playing in the second lineup. Look, hundreds of starting lineup projections are being thrown out there, and at the end of the day, no one knows what it will be at this moment.
However, there is a good chance that McKneely and Hadley are part of that second lineup. Now that Hadley is back, he will space the floor and provide much-needed space for the Cardinals' sharpshooter. He will also take a load of McKneely as if Hadley has the ball, he can back his defender down into the paint and either get an easy bucket or locate McKneely and pass it to the sharpshooter for a 3-pointer. McKneely and Hadley have the potential to be a deadly duo off the bench.