UofL announced today that all six committed prospects have inked their letters of intent and are officially Cards.
Signed. Sealed. Delivered.
Meet the 2019 Signing Class!https://t.co/oIb6f04HIT#GoCards pic.twitter.com/nh3g0MnV7v
— Louisville Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 19, 2018
Chris Mack went out and inked a top 10, possibly top 5 class that includes a powerful, skilled C , three versatile wings, and two big, athletic Gs. The players are:
Josh Nickelberry – 4 Star G
Height: 6’4
Weight: 175
Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
High School: Northwood Temple Academy
- National Overall Rank: 96
- Position Rank: 15
- State Rank: 5
Nickelberry was the first commit of the 2019 class for Coach Mack. He never wavered and was an instrumental recruiter for his fellow 2019 signees.
🎥: Our first commitment of the 2019 class@nickelberry_9 pic.twitter.com/tzdMzt3AsT
— Louisville Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 19, 2018
As a player, Nickelberry is a big G that is an excellent shooter. He’s very athletic which allows him to be an aggressive scorer driving to the basket. Nickelberry will likely be a fan favorite and a double figure scorer for Coach Mack.
David Johnson – 4 Star G
Height: 6’5
Weight: 170
Hometown: Louisville, KY
High School: Trinity High School
- National Rank: 72
- Position Rank: 9
- State Rank: 1
Johnson had previously been committed to UofL before the FBI scandal broke. After UofL had been implicated, Johnson backed off his commitment. However, it was obvious Johnson still really liked his hometown university and still harbored a desire to play for them. Eventually, Chris Mack and his assistants were able to convince Johnson to become a Card and play for his city.
🎥: Staying in The Ville 😎@_daveordavid_ pic.twitter.com/u9bWbaPGau
— Louisville Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 19, 2018
As a player, Johnson will be considered Mack’s PG. He is quite adept at running the show. Johnson is an excellent passer and ball handler. His size will help him be even better at seeing the floor, setting the offense, and distributing the ball. He will also be an effective scorer as he has a nice jumper and is adept at getting to the rim and finishing. Johnson will be the orchestrator of Chris Mack’s basketball symphony.
Samuell Williamson – 4 Star F
Height: 6’6
Weight: 180
Hometown: Rockwall, TX
High School: Rockwall
- National Rank: 46
- Position Rank: 12
- State Rank: 7
Williamson visited in September and committed right after his official visit. He was a player UofL had been keeping tabs on for a while.
🎥: "Sam has a versatility to his game that makes him difficult to handle."
See for yourself…@S_Williamson35 pic.twitter.com/evhQ7hlmVV
— Louisville Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 19, 2018
As a player, Williamson is really talented; a 6’6 wing that can score from all three levels. He can shoot shots off the catch or dribble with range out to 20 feet and possibly beyond. His size, quickness, and athleticism allow him to be a finisher at the rim. He moves well without the ball, always finding a way to get open; constantly cutting and moving, but never without purpose. Williamson is also an excellent passer with good court vision. He is an excellent defensive rebounder for his size.
Jaelyn Withers – 4 Star F
Height: 6’8
Weight: 215
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
High School: Cleveland Heights (OH)
- National Rank: 85
- Position Rank: 17
- State Rank: 2
Withers is a good friend of fellow commit Josh Nickelberry. They were AAU teammates. UofL has been in on him for a long time and Nickelberry recruited him particularly hard. He was leaning towards UofL for a while before committing right after his official visit in early September.
🎥: "Hasn't even begun to scratch his potential as a basketball player."@Jaelyn_Durant pic.twitter.com/fVZVN0NpU5
— Louisville Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 20, 2018
As a player, Withers is another versatile wing like Williamson except with 2 extra inches of height. He plays strong and big. Withers can hit 3s, hit mid-range pull-ups, and slash to the basket and finish. Withers is athletic and a big dunker. He punishes the rim as Montrezl Harrell once did. He’s a surprisingly good ball handler, adept at grabbing a defensive rebound and initiating a fast break or the offense. Withers is also a good rebounder using his size and strength to muscle up and grab rebounds. Expect Withers to be a candidate for double-doubles.
Quinn Slazinski – 3 Star F
Height: 6’8
Weight: 200
Hometown: Houston, TX
High School: Huntington Prep (WV)
- National Rank: 207
- Position Rank: 37
- State Rank: 1
Slazinski was a guy who popped up on most UofL fan’s radars quite late. However, it appears he was on Mack’s radar for quite some time. Slazinski pulled the trigger and committed to UofL on September 27th. His commitment came before he even officially visited campus.
🎥: "He's young for his class and his best days as a basketball player are ahead of him." – Coach Mack on Quinn Slazinski@QSlaz1 pic.twitter.com/69p988dsN8
— Louisville Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 19, 2018
As a player, Slazinski is an underrated talent. He plays like a 4 or 5 Star player and I believe there’s a chance he makes a jump in the rankings. At 6’8, he can shoot it from anywhere. He can go back to the basket, hit mid-range jumpers, drive and finish, or hit 3s. In some cases, he appears to play almost as a point forward. His passing and court vision are nice tools that he uses to get teammates involved. Slazinski isn’t a lumbering PF, but more of a stretch 4. He can handle the ball which will make him valuable against pressing teams. It’s expected Slazinski will redshirt, but make no mistake that when he gets to play he can be a valuable contributor. I expect he will be a stat sheet stuffer when he reaches his potential.
Aidan Igiehon – 4 Star C
Height: 6’10
Weight: 235
Hometown: Woodmere, NY (originally Dublin, Ireland)
High School: Lawrence Woodmere Academy
- National Rank: 45
- Position Rank: 13
- State Rank: 1
Igiehon was a priority target for Mack as soon as he arrived at UofL. The Irish Hulk was the main big man on UofL’s radar and was constantly recruited by Mack and staff. It eventually ended with Igiehon’s commitment.
🎥: The Irish Hulk 👀@Big_Harris22 pic.twitter.com/dqvia3xWGh
— Louisville Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 19, 2018
As a player, Igiehon is a force of nature. He’s physically ready to step in and play. He is athletically gifted and plays above the rim. Igiehon loves to dunk, but can finish in other ways around the rim. He’s developing some post moves and a nice baby hook. Igiehon is also developing a nice mid-range jumper. He is a good shot blocker and rebounder. He can likely be a double-double machine and monster presence down low for UofL on both ends of the floor.
