Former Louisville basketball star Chucky Hepburn was recently on a local radio show, Louisville Sports Live, and the former All-ACC point guard subtly dropped some information that many Louisville and Kentucky fans didn't know.
Hepburn entered the Transfer Portal after playing three seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers. The 4-star point guard was ranked as high as the No. 25 point guard in the portal and the No. 101 player to enter the portal that offseason. Louisville was able to snag Hepburn and earn his commitment, and he ended up having a massive All-ACC season, leading Louisville to a historic 2024-25 season.
Well, the former Cardinals star guard was actually supposed to visit the Kentucky Wildcats after he visited with Louisville, but after meeting with Pat Kelsey and the staff, there was no need for Mark Pope and the Wildcats to earn a visit.
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Chucky Hepburn reveals he was supposed to visit Kentucky
Hepburn revealed Thursday morning that he was actually supposed to take a trip to Lexington and meet with Pope and his Wildcats, but he was quickly sold on Kelsey and his culture and fell in love immediately.
"I was supposed to go visit Kentucky right after I got done with Louisville, but I fell in love with Coach Kelsey's system from the jump and the culture he was establishing here," Hepburn stated on Louisville Sports Live.
.@ChuckyHepburn “I was supposed to visit Kentucky after Louisville but I fell in love with Louisville and Pat Kelsey”
— Louisville Sports Live (@LvilleSprtsLive) August 14, 2025
The former Cardinals star explained he got off the plane and was greeted by Louisville fans immediately, and knew this was the place for him. The fans, the culture, and Kelsey's system sold him immediately, and so much so, he canceled his visit to Kentucky.
This could be a massive pitch for Louisville and the future of recruiting. Hepburn, who went on to win ACC Defensive Player of the Year and earn All-ACC First Team, is now playing in the NBA. He just told the nation that the Cardinals and their culture swayed him in one day, and he didn't even have to see or hear what Pope and Kentucky were going to pitch.
It worked out all for the best. Louisville fans are thrilled he backed out of the Wildcats' visit and committed that next day. He went on to average 16.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 43.2 percent from the field. He was one of the best point guards in the nation last year and brought Louisville back to relevance.
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For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.