The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is expected to be one of the top programs in the nation next season after their massive offseason. Louisville basketball will bring in three elite scorers from the transfer portal, a 5-star commit from the class of 2025, and will see some key players return, making this Cardinals team one of the best in the league
Kasean Pryor and J'Vonne Hadley announced they will return to Louisville and play under coach Pat Kelsey. The Cardinals only lost two players to the transfer portal, and they saw some key role players also return, like Kobe Rodgers, who will be a perfect backup to Mikel Brown Jr.
Center Aly Khalifa was another Cardinal who was expected to possibly start next season, after James Scott transferred to Ole Miss. However, Louisville received devastating news Thursday afternoon as the NCAA denied Khalifa's waiver to extend his eligibility, meaning he is now ineligible for the 2025-26 season.
Related: 5 Win-now players Louisville basketball must land after James Scott enters portal
Louisville basketball's projected starting center ineligible for 2025-26 season
The 6-foot-11 center and the Louisville Cardinals plan to appeal this decision and hope the ruling can be overturned.
Khalifa started his career with Charlotte in 2021-22, averaging 7.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from beyond the arc. He went on to be named the Conference USA Rookie of the Year and carried that momentum into his sophomore campaign as he improved his stats to averaging 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 51.1 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from downtown. He started in every game but one in his two seasons with the 49ers, and later transferred to BYU.
The Cardinals are already pretty thin at the center position, as their starting center from last season, James Scott, transferred to Ole Miss. Louisville will hope Sananda Fru can step up and be their starter, but Khalifa was projected to play a crucial role, either as a starter or a backup.
Kelsey and the Cardinals must now wait to see what the NCAA decides after Louisville appealed the decision. Everyone hopes the Cards' center is eligible to play next season, but if he isn't, Louisville must find a center as soon as possible before summer practice starts.
Related: Way-too-early starting five projection for the Louisville Cardinals 2025-26 season
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.