5 under-the-radar Louisville basketball players who will shock the nation this season

Louisville basketball's roster is much deeper than some may realize.
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1. Khani Rooths

Khani Rooths is a player the Louisville fans know about, but maybe not the nation. The former 4-star commit has tremendous upside, and the fans are hoping this year he takes a massive step in his true sophomore season. Rooths grew two inches and is now 6-foot-10, causing the fans to be all-in on this elite rising star.

Last year, Rooths was one of the Cardinals' X-factors, logging just 13.4 minutes per game, but he sparked the team with his energy. Rooths averaged just 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds, but in high school, he ranked as high as No. 31 in the nation and averaged 15.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the Adidas 3SSB circuit for New World.

Rooths is generating some buzz for the 2026 NBA Draft, as he is a top-200 prospect for the draft. While he has a lot to prove before he gets drafted, it proves how high his ceiling is. Rooths proved last year that he can play in this league, and now this year, he is expected to take a massive jump and make a name for himself.

Related: Louisville basketball's 4-star commit is emerging as top secret weapon next season

For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.

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