All offseason, the Louisville basketball fans wanted two things: a shooter and a 7-foot center. Well, we know Kelsey struck gold with the shooter as he brought in multiple sharpshooters and exceeded all expectations. As for the 7-footer, some fans were disappointed they didn't get one, but they had a 7-footer on their roster right in front of them the entire time.
Aly Khalifa has yet to play a minute for Pat Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals, as he was redshirted last season due to an injury he sustained the previous year. Now, the center will be a crucial piece for the Cardinals as he is not only an elite playmaker at his size, but after a growth spurt this summer, it appears Louisville fans got the 7-foot center they were begging for.
Khalifa appears to have grown an inch, as he is now listed at 7 feet 0 inches and has lost 50 pounds, officially weighing 250 pounds. The Cardinals' 7-footer appears to be the frontrunner to start at center for Kelsey as his elite court vision and ability to shoot are the perfect fit to play next to Louisville's backcourt.
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Aly Khalifa just filled the last gap in Louisville’s championship puzzle
The news that Khalifa grew just an inch might not sound significant to some, but it is a big deal for both offense and defense. The Cardinals now have a 7-foot monster who protects the rim at a high level on one end, and on the other end can space the floor and make spectacular passes.
Many experts and fans are drawn to the Cardinals' backcourt, and reasonably so, but Kelsey's frontcourt is severely underrated. Khalifa is going to be a massive addition to Louisville's roster as the 7-foot center has the potential to become an elite two-way star.
Another thing that jumps out to me from the @LouisvilleMBB roster is Aly Khalifa who looks to have grown taller and gotten smaller (which we knew). The Egyptian big man was previously listed at 6'11" 275 pounds and is now 7'0" 250 pounds. This guy has me very excited to watch… pic.twitter.com/WVgusN75bl
— Raashaan Myers (@raashaan) July 7, 2025
Khalifa will share the frontcourt with Kasean Pryor, Sananda Fru, J'Vonne Hadley, and Kesley's two international commitments. For those who don't know Khalifa's game well, he is a center who stretches the floor with his jump shot and elite playmaking abilities.
The center can pass like a point guard. It is one of the skills Kelsey fell in love with. The Cardinals will be loaded with shooters on the floor, and with Khalifa's passing abilities and now standing as a 7-foot center, he will be able to pass right over the defense and see the whole play develop.
As for his scoring abilities, he has a solid hook shot and a reliable jump shot. In his best season in his three collegiate seasons, he averaged 11.7 points on 51.1 percent shooting from the field and 38.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He splashed 48 3-pointers and averaged 1.4 per game. If he can shoot similar numbers this upcoming season, he will gel perfectly with the Cardinals' backcourt and make this team unstoppable.
Khalifa was the Cardinals' final missing piece. It will be key for him to develop his defensive skills this offseason, but the extra inch he grew makes it clear that he will be a valuable addition to Kelsey this upcoming season.
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For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.