Louisville basketball is returning some crucial players from the 2024-25 season, and one of them is Kasean Pryor. The 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward is coming off a torn ACL from last November, and head coach Pat Kelsey just gave a crucial update on his progress.
Pryor played in just seven games for Louisville last season before eventually tearing his ACL in that seventh game of the season against Oklahoma. The USF transfer was expected to be a key player on both ends of the floor as he can space the floor out and is a reliable shooter from outside the paint and beyond the arc.
Pryor is expected to play a pivotal role next season as well, and either be Kelsey's starting power forward or one of the key players who come off the bench. However, first, he has to be cleared to play, and Kelsey just said he is ahead of progress.
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Pat Kelsey gives crucial Kasean Pryor injury update
Pryor's injury was devastating last year, and he was one of the first dominoes to fall. Louisville was hit hard by injuries in the 2024-25 season, and Pryor was one of the biggest names to go down.
If Louisville wants to compete for an ACC Title and NCAA Title, the health of Pryor is crucial. So, when asked about the progress, Kelsey said it has been going "great".
"Great, from a medical standpoint, he is on pace and probably even ahead of schedule, but you would have to talk to Katie about that," Kelsey stated on Wednesday. "Typically, that is a nine-12 twelve-month type of thing, and he is exactly where he needs to be."
It is currently unknown whether Pryor will be back for game one or the start of the season, as Kelsey stated that this is something he cannot answer. However, he did not usually do that; it is around the nine-month period, which would make him available around September or October.
If Pryor continues at the pace he is currently at, or even a little ahead of schedule, then there is a high chance he will be ready for the first game of the regular season.
Now, that doesn't mean he is just going to start and be the Pryor fans saw last year or when he was at USF. He most likely will be on a minutes restriction for a handful of games before being cleared to play regular minutes.
This was a pivotal update, as it was the first time Louisville fans had received a Pryor update since the 2024-25 season. And to hear he is possibly ahead of schedule is great to hear. Last season with Louisville, Pryor averaged 12.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
He was a dominant force on both ends of the floor, making it crucial that he maintains this pace and returns for the start of the 2025-26 season.
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