Louisville basketball recently missed out on 5-star power forward Milan Momcilovic. The Cardinals were trying to complete their “superteam”, as Flory Bidunga called it, but Momcilovic ultimately committed to the Kentucky Wildcats over the Cards after being offered over $6.5 million.
Milan Momcilovic breaks Louisville basketball hearts by picking the enemy instead
While it was a crushing blow to see Momcilovic go to Kentucky, Louisville fans aren’t freaking out for multiple reasons. Pat Kelsey built a top 15 team in the nation this offseason, as he has the No. 1 Transfer Portal class, and that includes some major splashes but also some underrated gems.
And when looking at a few of those underrated gems who aren’t getting a lot of attention, the Cards' projected power forward, Álvaro Folgueiras, is one of them.
Álvaro Folgueiras will be Louisville's secret weapon
When looking at Louisville’s offseason and its additions, a lot of focus goes to Bidunga, Jackson Shelstad, Karter Knox, and Obinna Ekezie Jr. But Folgueiras is a player who will fit right into Kelsey’s system and has a chance to really flourish at Louisville.
"Álvaro Folgueiras will be an engine for us," stated Kelsey in his statement about Folgueiras. "At 6-10, he possesses a combination of size and skill that is rare and highly coveted. Dynamic on both the perimeter and in the paint, he creates a massive problem for opposing defenses. Alvaro is extremely versatile on the offensive end; and while he's an efficient scorer, it's his playmaking prowess that separates him as one of the elite players in college basketball. Alvaro will allow us to continue to spread the floor while affording us the size and defensive tools necessary for competing at the highest level nationally.”
The Cardinals' national title hopes and dreams would have soared if Momcilovic had committed to the Cardinals, but Folgueiras has a chance to be a major X-factor next season.
The 6-foot-10 power forward didn’t get the minutes or the role that would have allowed him to excel at Iowa. He played just 20.8 minutes per game, and, like Adrian Wooley, it took him some time to adjust to Power Five basketball. However, in the NCAA Tournament, Folgueiras really came to life, scoring 14 points in the first and second rounds and 16 points in the Sweet Sixteen.
So, now that the first year is out of the way, Louisville fans and Kelsey are confident he can space the floor and be the “engine” the Cardinals need. With Robert Morris, he averaged 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, earning him the 2025 Horizon League Player of the Year award.
He earned 14 double-doubles and made 45 3s on 41.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. So, Folgueiras has the NCAA Tournament experience from last year, showed he can shoot the ball at a high rate his sophomore season, and now with Louisville, the Cardinals are hoping it all comes together for Kelsey.
Louisville fans would have been thrilled if Momcilovic committed to the Cards, but Folgueiras is poised for a breakout season with Louisville, as the 4-star transfer ranked No. 65 overall in the portal.
Also read: Louisville's lineup even without Milan Momcilovic should still have fans dreaming big
For all the latest news and updates on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.
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