Pat Kelsey and Louisville basketball’s offseason haul continues as the Cardinals just landed their third commitment in four days. Kelsey has some portal magic, as in his first three years with Louisville, he continues to impress and make eye-popping moves in the Transfer Portal.
Louisville basketball adds to massive portal haul with former 5-star recruit
Louisville just landed 4-star transfer and former 5-star recruit Karter Knox. The Arkansas transfer ranks as high as No. 6 among small forwards in the Transfer Portal, and was ranked as high as No. 22 in the 2024 recruiting class.
The Cardinals' offseason got off to a red-hot start, as Louisville fans are beginning to see the domino effect after the Cardinals landed 5-star transfer Flory Bidunga and 4-star transfer Jackson Shelstad over the weekend. The Cardinals still have some work to do after losing nine of their top 10 players from the 2025-26 season, but Kelsey’s starting lineup is beginning to come into focus.
So, with Knox officially committing to Louisville, here is our way-too-early prediction for what the Cardinals' 2026-27 starting lineup will look like.
Point Guard: Jackson Shelstad
The Oregon transfer will be Kelsey’s starting point guard, as Shelstad transfers to Louisville as a 4-star recruit and former 5-star. Shelstad was ranked as high as No. 24 overall and No. 6 among point guards in the 2024 recruiting class and made an immediate impact at the college level, making the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team his true freshman season after averaging 12.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game.
His junior season was shaping up to be his best, as he was averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, but it was cut short by a hand injury. Shelstad is a big-time splash for Kelsey as he ranks No. 16 overall in the portal and No. 5 among point guards.
Shooting Guard: Adrian Wooley
This one comes down between Adrian Wooley and John Blackwell. If the Cards continue their push for Blackwell and land the Wisconsin transfer, Wooley is likely gone. But if Louisville decides to go the Wooley route, Blackwell will likely head to Duke, Illinois, or elsewhere.
Right now, we are going to predict Wooley to be the starting shooting guard, just for the reason he is on the roster at the moment. The former 5-star combo guard is an elite playmaker who can create his own shot with craftiness, drive to the lane and finish through contact, and shoot from beyond the arc. Wooley committed to Louisville last offseason as a 5-star transfer who ranked No. 9 in the portal and No. 2 among combo guards.
Small Forwards: Karter Knox
Louisville’s projected starting small forward is its most recent commitment. Knox commits to Louisville after playing his first two seasons with the Razorbacks, where he started in 42 of his 58 games with Arkansas. The newest Cardinal is a former Louisville target in the 2024 recruiting class, a 5-star recruit who ranked as high as No. 22 in the 2024 cycle and No. 6 among small forwards.
He now joins Louisville and brings much-needed athleticism and defense. Knox has shown he can be a key piece on the defensive end in his first two years, but he can also be an offensive threat as he scored 15 points against St. John’s and 20 points against Texas Tech in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Knox commits to Louisville, ranked as a unanimous 4-star transfer, No. 57 overall and No. 6 among small forwards.
Power Forwards: Alvaro Folgueiras
The Cardinals are now the dominant favorite to land Iowa transfer, Alvaro Folgueiras. The 4-star power forward would be put right into Kelsey’s starting lineup as the former Robert Morris transfer is coming off a year where he averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field and 33 percent from beyond the arc.
The Iowa transfer is a stretch-four who would give the Cardinals much-needed space with this starting lineup as he splashed 45 3’s his sophomore season on 41 percent shooting from beyond the arc with Robert Morris. He ranks No. 54 overall in the portal and No. 13 among power forwards.
Center: Flory Bidunga
And, of course, the Cardinals' projected starting center will be the 5-star transfer Flory Bidunga. The Kansas transfer is the No. 1 overall transfer in the portal after winning Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12 and making the All-Big 12 First-Team.
Kelsey addressed Louisville’s biggest flaw over the past two seasons by adding Bidunga, as the 5-star center has a dominant paint presence on the defensive end, averaging 2.6 blocks per game, and is one of the best lob threats in the nation on the offensive end. He commits to Louisville after averaging 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and shooting 64 percent from the field.
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