August is quickly approaching for college basketball fans, and Louisville basketball is expected to be one of the top teams in the nation. The Cardinals added nine players this offseason, including six from the Transfer Portal and three from the 2026 recruiting class.
When looking at Louisville’s additions, a few names really stand out. The big one is, of course, the 5-star center Flory Bidunga. The Kansas transfer comes to Louisville after being one of the best rim protectors in college basketball this past season and is expected to be that dominant force Louisville has desperately needed.
After Bidunga, another name getting a lot of attention is the Cardinals' other 5-star addition, Obinna Ekezie Jr. The 5-star center was one of the top-ranked recruits in the 2026 recruiting class, and Cardinals fans have noticed that Ekezie's height and weight have changed for the better.
Louisville's Obinna Ekezie Jr. just had an eye-popping update
When Ekezie committed to Louisville, he was 7 feet and around 220-pounds, however, that has changed. Â The Cardinals center has reportedly grown two inches this offseason and now weighs 20 pounds more, with the Cardinals website listing Ekezie at 7-foot-2, 240 pounds.
#Louisville freshman Obinna Ekezie Jr. is listed as 7'2" and 240 pounds on the Cardinals' roster.
— Logan Adams (@LoganPAdams) July 23, 2026
That's two inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than he was listed in high school. pic.twitter.com/GAIAxPztmc
Ekezie hitting a growth spurt and putting on 20 pounds of muscle is huge for the 5-star freshman and the Cardinals. At 7-foot-2, 240 pounds, Ekezie is poised to have an immediate impact for Louisville and be much more physical and aggressive in his first year.
The Cardinals' frontcourt and their physicality were their glaring flaw the past two seasons, and while a lot are high on Bidunga, this update is huge for the Cardinals. When Ekezie initially committed to Louisville, he was ranked as high as the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2027 recruiting class and the No. 1 center.
He was the highest-rated commitment in program history, with a 0.9986 rating. He then reclassified to the 2026 recruiting class, and now ranks as high as No. 14 overall and the No. 1 center, and with this growth spurt and impressive weight gain, he is going to be a dominant big man in his true freshman season.
This past year, the 7-foot-2 center averaged an eye-popping  17.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. With his 7-foot-4 wingspan and now weighing in at 240 pounds, Ekezie is going to be another huge paint presence for the Cardinals on offense and defense.
The duo of Bidunga and Ekezie is going to be special for Louisville, and the Cardinals fans haven’t seen a frontcourt this talented in a long time. 2026-27 is going to be a fun year for Louisville fans, and the time is now for the Cardinals to chase that title they are starving for.
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