Louisville basketball recently learned they earned a commitment from Mouhamed Camara from the NBA Academy Africa program. The newest Cardinal is 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds and is a lethal two-way player.
Last season, Camara averaged 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.8 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 60 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. The Cardinals ' forward positions are filling up nicely, but Louisville still has a significant hole they must address before summer camp begins.
The transfer portal is winding down, and Pat Kelsey is running out of options. While Camara was a massive under-the-radar pickup, the Cardinals must address their glaring roster hole.
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Mouhamed Camara commitment still leaves Louisville basketball with one glaring hole
Louisville has the sixth-best odds to win the National Championship, and recently, many experts have predicted the Cardinals to be the best team in the ACC. However, if Louisville wants to earn its first ACC Title in program history and win its first National Championship since 2013, then this team must attack a few centers in the portal.
Louisville has a 4-star Sananda Fru coming over from Germany, but his primary role is power forward, so if he switches to center, it could take some adjustment. After Fru, the Cardinals have no one as of now.
The Cards have also already lost their starting center, James Scott, to Ole Miss, and then things got worse for the Cardinals' center room last week. A lot is riding on their 6-foot-11 center, Aly Khalifa, and the appeal. Recently, the NCAA ruled Khalifa ineligible for the 2025-26 season, making the Cardinals' center room even thinner.
Louisville needs an elite paint presence like Malcolm Wilson from Queens University, who can protect the rim and block shots. Wilson averaged a league-best of 3.3 blocks per game last season. They must go after someone who is a 7-foot monster and grab some boards to protect the paint. They don't need a 4 or 5-star center, and they just need some added depth in case Khalifa is ineligible.
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Camara is an excellent pickup for the Cardinals, but Louisville needs to address the center position. Louisville will need some height if it wants to make a deep postseason run, and if the Cardinals lose Khalifa, their roster will take a significant hit.
This Cardinals team will be at the top of college basketball and the ACC next year, no matter what. This roster is deep and has one of the best shooting lineups in college basketball and the best backcourt, as it is led by two 5-stars, Mikel Brown Jr. and Adrian Wooley. Adding a 7-foot center would just add much-needed height and depth in the center position, as it appears the center room is the Cardinals' only glaring hole remaining in their roster.
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.