Louisville basketball is just a few weeks away, and the Cardinals fans are buzzing with excitement. Pat Kelsey had an incredibly busy offseason, losing nine of his top ten players, including all five starters and his top four scorers from last season.
Flory Bidunga just gave Louisville fans another reason to believe in Pat Kelsey
So, Kelsey made drastic changes this offseason, including adding seven players from the Transfer Portal. But he didn’t just make noise in the portal; he also landed three recruits from the 2026 class, including 5-star center Obinna Ekezie Jr.
When Ekezie committed to Louisville,, there was a lot of hype around his name, but he needed to add some muscle before the college season started. That's exactly what the freshman did, and the before-and-after picture blows Cardinals fans away.
Obinna Ekezie Jr. looks completley different at Louisville
Ekezie committed to Louisville, measuring 7 feet tall and 220 pounds. The 5-star freshman is an elite center who can space the floor and is super athletic, but when he arrived at Louisville, it was clear he had to add a little muscle.
Well, that is what he did, as he went viral on social media this week after he hit 248 pounds, and the difference is clear as day.
Obinna Ekezie has put in the work since arriving in Louisville 🔥
— William McDermott (@804derm) October 7, 2026
via @coachfoyboi on IG pic.twitter.com/2fH7osyuKb
According to Louisville’s website and this graphic, Ekezie is now 7-foot-2 and 248 pounds, and with that drastic difference, this 5-star freshman has a chance to be an immediate star for Louisville and Pat Kelsey. Ekezie ranks as high as No. 9 overall and is a unanimous 5-star and the unanimous No. 1 center in the 2026 recruiting class.
Ekezie was initially in the 2027 recruiting class, where he ranked No. 2 overall, but he committed to Louisville and reclassified to the 2026 class. And, after his impressive weight gains, it was definitely worth it. During his recruiting process, he visited Arkansas and BYU and earned offers from Alabama, Houston, Kentucky, UCLA, and others.
The 5-star center played in 31 games for Southeastern Prep, averaging 17.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, and shooting an impressive 60 percent from the field. Now, after gaining nearly 30 pounds this offseason since joining the Cardinals, Ekezie is a player everyone should have on their radar.
A lot of attention is going to 5-star transfer Flory Bidunga, and while Bidunga deserves the spotlight, the national media (not UofL fans) seem to be forgetting Kelsey’s other 5-star pickup. Ekezie adds muscle and looks like a beast, exactly what Louisville fans wanted to see.
Ekezie still has room to grow and will have freshman moments, but adding muscle and gaining weight reassures Louisville fans he'll be a star for the Cardinals.
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