Louisville basketball's National Title hopes soar after Aly Khalifa ruled eligible

Louisville basketball received massive news this Friday afternoon, as the Cardinals' projected starting center, Aly Khalifa, won his appeal and will officially play this upcoming season. The Louisville men's basketball program put out an absolute tearjerker of a video on their social media page as Kelsey announced his eligibility, and the entire team sprang out of their seats and greeted an emotional Khalifa.

While this news is massive for the men's basketball program and will elevate this team to be a legitimate National Title contender, it is also amazing to see a player's dream come true. This Cardinals team will gel perfectly together now that their big man is eligible for next season.

Khalifa is one of the best passers in the world at his height, and he has consistently demonstrated this every year in college. Additionally, he has lost over 50 pounds since transferring to Louisville and is now in peak physical condition at 6-foot-11, 250 pounds. Khalifa's eligibility for next season skyrockets this team's National Title hopes, as he was their last missing piece.

Louisville basketball's National Title hopes soar after Aly Khalifa ruled eligible

The Cardinals currently have the tenth-best odds to win the National Title next season, and after Khalifa is now eligible, the nation is about to be put on notice just how good this big man is. Pat Kelsey called his the most talented passer last month on ACCM, and he isn't wrong.

During his college career, he has averaged 3.4 assists per game, including his lone season with BYU, when he averaged 4.0 assists per game. He earned four assists or more in 17 games in 2023-24, including three games where he secured eight assists. The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center is extremely gifted and is going to gel perfectly with the Cardinals' backcourt.

Adding Khalifa with Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell, Adrian Wooley, and Isaac McKneely is giving fans goosebumps just thinking about it. The Cardinals will be able to space the floor out and shoot their opponents out of the gym.

Khalifa will most likely get the nod to start, and he will be the perfect center to play with the Cardinals' elite guards. The center being eligible will significantly increase this team's chances of winning a National Title, and will be a crucial piece for Kelsey's team next season.

Louisville needed a big man around 7 feet tall, and they just got the perfect player. It was clear Kelsey was banking on Khalifa winning his appeal, and now that he did, the 6-foot-11 center will be a dominant force in the paint, a big-time rim protector, and an elite playmaker. The Cardinals' entire team has just improved with Khalifa available, and this program is trending towards its third National Title.

For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.