Louisville basketball learned excellent news on Friday as their 6-foot-11, 250-pound center, Aly Khalifa, was ruled eligible for the 2025-26 season. The Cardinals' roster is set, and the fans are fired up for the upcoming season.
Louisville will be led by some new faces while also returning some key veteran players who are already familiar with Pat Kelsey's system. The Cardinals currently have +2000 odds to win the 2026 National Championship, which is the tenth-best odds, according to FanDuel. The Cards have one of the best rosters in the nation and were actually ranked as the best, according to Sleeper Media.
So, after Khalifa was ruled eligible, it is time once again to try and predict who will start for Kelsey and the Cardinals in game one of the 2025-26 season.
Related: Projected 2025-26 Louisville basketball starting lineup with and without Aly Khalifa
Louisville basketball's projected starting five after Aly Khalifa ruled eligible
So, before jumping into things, let's start by saying this is our projection. There are hundreds of possibilities right now, and at the end of the day, Louisville basketball is trending in the right direction. That stated here is our projected starting five.
Point Guard - Mikel Brown Jr.
The only position that is a lock is a point guard. The historic 5-star commit, the player everyone is talking about, the guard who will hopefully take the Cardinals to the Promised Land, Mikel Brown Jr. He doesn't really need a reason why, but to give him one. He is ranked as No. 6 in the 2025 cycle, the No. 1 point guard, and is projected to be a top-five pick in the next draft. He is currently representing Team USA on their U19 team and is searching for his second gold medal at just 18 years old.
Related: The next big thing in College Basketball is heading to Louisville basketball
Shooting Guard - Adrian Wooley
Here is where things get complicated. Louisville earned commitments from three transfers, all of whom are shooting guards. All offseason, we have projected Adrian Wooley to start for Kelsey's Cardinals, and we will stick to that projection. Many fans are trending towards Isaac McKneely, but we are going to give it to Wooley because of his athleticism and defense. Wooley possesses the skills to shoot at an extremely high rate while also providing elite defense and athleticism. Last season, Kelsey brought Reyne Smith off the bench to start the season, and we think a similar situation next year will happen with McKneely. Down the line, the starting lineup might change, but for now, we are sticking with Wooley.
Related: 5 key reasons Adrian Wooley committed to the Louisville Cardinals over Alabama
Small Forward - Ryan Conwell
Small forward came down to a few players, but after Ryan Conwell stated in an interview he is ready to play multiple positions, we think he is going to get the nod at small forward. He is already receiving NBA Draft recognition for next year's draft, and someone with his skills is hard to bring off the bench. Conwell can score 20 points a game and shoot above 40 percent from the field and beyond the arc. He is just 6-foot-4, so he will be a bit undersized at small forward, but playing alongside Brown and Wooley, it is clear that Louisville's backcourt is going to be one of the best in the nation.
Related: 5 glaring reasons the Louisville Cardinals aced the Ryan Conwell commitment
Power Forward - Kasean Pryor
The power forward position is going to come down to the Cardinals' two biggest returners, and for game one, we think Kasean Pryor is going to start. With him coming off a season-ending knee injury, we almost gave it to J'Vonne Hadley, but if Pryor is healthy, the Cardinals are going to need some height from their frontcourt. Hadley is going to come off the bench in this projection, making Louisville's bench stacked with Kobe Rodgers, McKneely, Hadley, and more. Pryor is 6-foot-10 and can shoot from anywhere on the floor, with the ability to protect the rim.
Related: 5 Louisville Cardinals who will benefit the most from Kasean Pryor returning
Center - Aly Khalifa
Finally starting at center will be the one and only Aly Khalifa. It came down to Sananda Fru or Khalifa, but for game one, we think Khalifa's experience and ability to pass fit perfectly with the Cardinals' backcourt and the style of offense Kelsey wants to run.
Conclusion
The Cardinals roster is loaded. Coming off the bench in this scenarion they will have Rodgers, McKneely, Khani Rooths, Hadley, and Fru. That could be a solid starting five for any program in the nation. It's a good problem to have in June when the fans are arguing over who's going to start, and right now, Louisville is in the midst of that.
This is our current projection for Game 1, but it's subject to change. Kelsey is going to throw out multiple lineups, and the one he goes with for game one will likely not be the one he ends the year with.
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.