Kasean Pryor officially announced on social media that he will return to the Louisville Cardinals next season, marking his second season with Pat Kelsey. Louisville basketball fans have been anxiously waiting for this announcement, as the transfer portal deadline is today. This means it was Pryor's last day to decide if he wanted to be a Cardinal next season.
Pryor is the final piece for Louisville's National Championship quest next season, as the Cardinals only needed a stretch power forward who can provide elite scoring and spacing while being a legit rim protector on the other end. Pryor will be expected to start as Kelsey's power forward next season and will play alongside the Cardinals' elite backcourt.
Kelsey not only brought in three unanimous top-20 transfers this offseason, but he also managed to lose only one player to the portal. The Cardinals' offseason is ranked as high as No. 3 according to 247Sports. Louisville bringing back Pryor is a massive announcement, as this Cardinals roster has a legitimate shot of winning the National Championship next season.
Kasean Pryor is Louisville basketball final piece for National Championship Quest
The 6-foot-10 power forward transferred last season after averaging 13.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game for the USF Bulls. Pryor was one of Kelsey's most notable commitments last season as he was set to be a perfect stretch power forward, as he shot 44.7 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from beyond the arc.
However, Pryor tore his ACL in his seventh game with the Cardinals against Oklahoma, sidelining him for the rest of the season. The Cardinals missed Pryor tremendously, as he has the potential to dominate both ends of the floor. He averaged 12.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Pryor is the Cardinals' hidden gem this offseason. After landing Adrian Wooley, Ryan Conwell, and Isaac McKneely, it was clear that the only thing left was to bring the elite power forward back.
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this is for the city ! ❤️ #godsgotme pic.twitter.com/EipkQQ2zX4
— Kasean Pryor (Kay-sin) (@1kasean) April 22, 2025
He will fit perfectly next to Mikel Brown Jr. and company as he will be able to space the floor. Last season, he knocked five threes in just seven games, and in a full season with the Bulls, he splashed 37 3-pointers. He can shoot mid-range jumpers, attack the rim, and finish through contact.
On the other end, he will play with Sananda Fru, the commit from Germany, making an elite frontcourt. These two forwards will gel perfectly next to each other, as Pryor will be free to play the power forward position and space the floor out for Fru, allowing him to excel in the dunking and center positions.
With Pryor officially returning for next season, this Louisville basketball roster has an elite 11-man roster that sets Kelsey up for a National Championship run. The Cardinals currently have the No. 4 highest odds, according to FanDuel, and after Pryor comes back, Louisville will not be the Duke Blue Devils biggest threat in the ACC, but they will be a massive threat to win the National Championship.