Pat Kelsey made some major moves this offseason, including adding multiple 5-stars and multiple 4-stars. The Cardinals added 11 players, including eight from the Transfer Portal and three from the 2026 recruiting class.
Louisville’s dominant win revealed exactly what Pat Kelsey needs from his 5-star freshman
Entering the season, 5-star Obinna Ekezie Jr. was getting a lot of attention as the elite center committed to Louisville, ranked as high as No. 2 in the 2027 recruiting class, and at the time was the highest commitment in program history. He then reclassified to the 2026 recruiting class and is now making an immediate impact with Kelsey and UofL.
The 7-foot-2 center has tremendous potential and is trending toward being another one-and-done for Kelsey and Louisville. Earlier this month, Bleacher Report released its latest 2027 NBA mock draft, and the 5-star freshman is trending toward going early in the first round.
Obinna Ekezie Jr. projected to go top 15 in latest mock draft
Ekezie is on pace to snap a long drought for Louisville and the NBA Draft, as the Cardinals haven’t had a first-round pick in consecutive years since 1990 and 1991, when Felton Spencer and LaBradford Smith were drafted.
Now, Ekezie is looking to change that, as last NBA Draft Mikel Brown Jr. was selected No. 6 overall by the Brooklyn Nets, and in Bleacher Report's latest NBA mock draft, it is a promising sign that the 5-star freshman will not only go in the first round, but he has a real chance to be a lottery pick.
Ekezie is projected to go No. 15 overall to the Charlotte Hornets, the first pick after the lottery, but the 7-foot-2 center is making a strong case to climb higher in these mock drafts after a dominant performance against Morehead State.
"With Obinna Ekezie Jr. standing 7'2" with a 7'5" wingspan, any signs of outlier shooting or movement skills will generate NBA buzz.Jonathan Wasserman
His four three-pointers and five blocks against Kansas in the preseason turned heads. More lines like that would make Ekezie one of the class's most coveted bigs.
Between the Players Era field in Las Vegas and nonconference games against Texas, Michigan and Kentucky, Ekezie will have plenty of early chances to sell his NBA tools and offensive developmental progress."
Louisville has 2 guys projected to be drafted in @bleacherreport’s new 2027 NBA mock draft 📈
— Louisville CBB (@Louisvillecbb) November 10, 2026
Does PK have another lottery pick on his hands? 👀 #GoCards pic.twitter.com/zCuDKIKo8J
Ekezie is coming off his best game so far, earning his first career double-double after leading Louisville in scoring with 20 points after shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. The 5-star freshman also added an impressive 13 rebounds and two blocks.
There is a lot to like about Ekezie: he stands 7-foot-2, and his ability to shoot from beyond the arc makes him a top prospect in the 2027 NBA Draft. He quickly turned heads in Louisville’s preseason matchup against Kansas, scoring 16 points in 19 minutes, plus 8 rebounds and a dominant 5 blocks.
The Cardinals' elite freshman will have plenty of chances to climb up these mock drafts as they will face Texas Tech, Texas, Michigan, and Kentucky before the new year, giving Ekezie some golden opportunities to prove he should be a lottery pick.
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