Category Archives: Basketball Recruiting
2019 4 Star Trinity G David Johnson Re-commits To UofL Basketball
Photo Courtesy of David Johnson’s Twitter Account (@_daveordavid_)
Trinity High School’s David Johnson committed to Rick Pitino and his hometown UofL Cardinals back in September 2017, but ended up decommitting when the FBI scandal broke. Now, just a year later, Johnson, a 6’5 170 lbs G, has recommitted to Coach Chris Mack and the Cards.
š“ā«ļøāŖļøš #L1C4 pic.twitter.com/dzaT2ezdGI
— David johnson ć² (@_daveordavid_) September 22, 2018
Johnson is a 4 Star G and the 72nd ranked player in 2019 per 247sports composite rankings. He chose UofL over Tom Crean and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Chris Mack Looks To Cement His 2019 Recruiting Class Next Weekend
Chris Mack has come in like a whirlwind, an irresistible force, and began rebuilding the brand of UofL Basketball; a brand that is as rich in tradition as any school.
Photo Courtesy of Chris Mack’s Twitter Account (@CoachChrisMack)
He started by welcoming all players from all eras to come home. Then, he set about transforming the current roster both in physical appearance and in their style of play. Now, he’s out on the recruiting trail showing the college basketball world that UofLās brand is not dead; that, in fact, it was merely dormant and it is ready to rise up and enjoy a new birth of relevancy on the national stage.
2019 4 Star SF Samuell Williamson Commits To The Cards
Photo Courtesy of Samuell Williamson’s Twitter Account (@S_Williamson35)
Chris Mack has the Cardinal Caravan rolling as UofL picks up their third commitment for the 2019 class in 4 Star F Samuell Williamson.
C O M M I T T E D ā¼ļøš“āŖļøā«ļø#GoCards pic.twitter.com/u8J77xyI3Y
— Samuell Williamson (@S_Williamson35) September 17, 2018
Williamson, a 6ā6 180 lbs SF from Rockwall High School in Rockwall, TX, is ranked 44th overall in the 2019 class per 247sports composite rankings.Ā He chose UofL over Kansas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Florida, and a host of other schools. Luke Murray was his primary recruiter.
I have watched highlights of Williamson, but we atĀ @CardSportZoneĀ also got to see him in person at the open gym the UofL Basketball team held on Saturday. This guy is a cool customer on the court with a high basketball IQ and we came away highly impressed.
Williamson is in constant motion without the ball on offense; always forcing his defender to move and working his way to get open. He loves to get open in the corners for 3s. What stood out on his highlights and in the practice was that his movement isn’t a token gesture. He always moves with purpose; either to create spacing for teammates to work or to get open. He loves to go back door on over eager defenders for alley oops or layups.
However, Williamson can also handle the ball in the open court and in the half court. His ball handling is as smooth as his personality seems to be. He handles like a 6ā2 PG and can actually run some point. It is entirely possible to run an offense through him if need be.
Photo Courtesy of Samuell Williamson’s Twitter Account (@S_Williamson35)
Williamson matches his ball handling with excellent court vision, awareness, and passing. In one of his highlights, he grabs a rebound, brings the ball up the court, and makes a nice pass between two unaware defenders to his teammate for an easy layup. At the open practice, he did an excellent job of feeding the post when a big had a favorable one on one matchup; he used very simple, crisp passes.
Top 2019 UofL Target Jaelyn Withers Visiting UofL This Weekend
Photo Courtesy of Phenom Hoop Report Twitter Account (@Phenom_Hoops)
Jaelyn Withers, one of UofL’s top 2019 targets, is set to officially visit campus this weekend.
UofL Basketball Announces “Louisville Live” Event
Photo Courtesy of gocards.com
UofL Basketball announced this morning a special event for fans called “Louisville Live.” The event will be held at the unique venue of 4th Street Live from 7-9 pm on September 28th with admission beginning at 6 pm.
It’s a chance to wow recruits, let the players have some fun, and infuse the fan base with some much-needed excitement.
There will be plenty of activities for fans and, best of all, it’s free! Head on out to see new Coach Chris Mack and his 2018-2019 UofL squad. Click on the tweet above for the full details of the event.
Louisville Womens Basketball Eyeing Top 10 2019 Recruit
Photo Courtesy of Rickea Jackson’s Twitter Account (@iamthathooper)
Here Ye! Here Ye! Look whos coming down the pipe this time. Jeff Walz and your UofL womens basketball staff are at it again. This time, they are knocking on the door of 5 star 63 wing Ms Rickea Jackson. Could this be a good time now to mention shes the number 9 rated player in her class?
Rickea Jackson is the number 9 ranked player in her class for now. She can easily move into a top five spot by the end of her senior year at Detroit Edison Public Academy – shes that good folks. Jackson also has a very impressive list of schools, as she is wanted by just about every Division 1 program.
The do-it-all Jackson is spectacular in the open floor, in fact shes spectacular in just about every phase of the game (passing, dribbling, shooting, rebounding, and defense).
Louisville isnt looking to rebuild anymore: they are in reload mode. There is no better weapon to reload with other than Rickea Jackson!
Jacksons athleticism is second to none. With her 63 frame she can do a lot of damage in the post and from the mid range. Rickea also has a nice array of post moves that she can use to counter defenders if they try to smoother her in the mid-range area. The Detroit Edison star is almost an instant mismatch every time she steps on the court. She uses her impressive wingspan to be a force on the defensive end and also on the offensive and defensive boards. Jackson is a quick leaper and has a very quick first step for anyone, despite being 63.
2019 UofL Commit Josh Nickelberry Shows Out In Inaugural Battle For Georgia AAU Tournament
Photo Courtesy of Adidas
2019 UofL Basketball commit Josh Nickelberry led his team, Game Elite Gold, to victory in the inaugural Battle for Georgia AAU tournament. His team competed in the 17U division, which was compiled of 8 teams. The tournament was filled with AAU teams that were Georgia based.
Nickelberry showed exactly why UofL fans will love him, as the 6’4 175 lbs G exhibited his shooting prowess all weekend. He rained down threes on every opponent Game Elite Gold faced. He also displayed some of his abilities as a passer and facilitator.
UofL Basketball Adds Walk On From Division III College In Maine
Photo Courtesy of Matt Hanna’s Twitter Account (@MHanna_22)
UofL Basketball announced another new edition to the roster today when walk on Matt Hanna was added. Hanna is a 5’9 165 lbs G that played for Division III Colby College last season. You can read all the details about UofL’s new player in the press release below.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT:
Matt Hanna joins UofL Mens Basketball Team
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Matt Hanna, a 5-9, 165-pound guard from Milford, Mass., who played a season at Colby College, has joined the University of Louisville mens basketball team as a walk-on.
Hanna started 23 games last season at Colby College, an NCAA Division III school located in Waterville, Maine. He averaged 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-leading 3.3 assists during his freshman year with the Mules and ranked second on the team with 23 steals. He will redshirt the 2018-19 season at UofL and have three years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
UofL Basketball Hosting Some Elite Talent On Campus This Week
Coach Chris Mack has some very talented 2019 and 2020 players visiting UofL this week. He’s working hard to rebuild the brand and continue the tradition of UofL bringing in high level talent.
A 5 Star and a bunch of 4 Star players will be paying or have paid visits to campus to see what UofL and Coach Mack have to offer.
Here’s a rundown of each of these players.
QUDUS WAHAB
Photo Courtesy of Jody Demling/Cardinal Authority and 247sports.com
2019 4 Star C
- Height – 6’10
- Weight – 230 lbs
- High School – Flint Hill School (Ashburn, VA) originally from Nigeria
- Offer Date – 6/23/18
- Visit Date – 6/23/18
Wahab visited UofL on June 23 and left with an offer in hand. Mike Pegues is the lead recruiter for UofL. Other schools recruiting Wahab include Syracuse, UConn, Virginia Tech, and Clemson, among others per 247sports.
Khwan Fore Is Officially In The Fold For The Cards
Photo Courtesy of Louisville Men’s Basketball Twitter Account (@LouisvilleMBB)
Back on June 2, Khwan Fore committed to UofL as a grad transfer. Fore is a G that had played for the Richmond Spiders. Now Fore is officially part of the University of Louisville basketball roster after signing his financial aid papers today.
The 6’0 175 lbs G originally committed to Tennessee as a grad transfer in May before reopening his recruitment. He averaged 11.1 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game, and 1.7 steals per game for Richmond last year.
Fore is an athletic powerful G that will provide valuable minutes, likely from the bench. His defense and experience will be relied upon by Coach Mack.
By the way, he also loves to dunk. His dunking prowess at Richmond was such that Richmond made a YouTube video studying the physics of his dunks (thanks to John Lewis of WDRB for finding this awesome video and tweeting about it). Check it out below. Lets bring back the Doctors of Dunk and the Dunking Cardinal.
A Cardinal Returns To The Nest: Akoy Agau Is Back At UofL
Photo Courtesy of scout.com and 247sports.com
A prodigal son has returned to UofL Basketball; a player long forgotten after he transferred to Georgetown. Chris Mack has brought back Akoy Agau as a grad transfer. So, Agau’s career has now come full circle and shall end where it began. This has been in the works for a few weeks.
Agau, a 6’8 230 lbs F from NE, played at UofL for 2 seasons. While he did show a little promise in very limited playing time, he never quite capitalized on it.
The inability of Agau to reach his potential likely has to do with two issues. The first is Agau having to battle Montrezl Harrell for playing time. Obviously, it was a losing battle for him competing against a future pro for playing time.
How UofL Recruiting Targets Did At NBPA Top 100 Camp
Photo Courtesy of NBPA.com
UofL basketball had one commit and several top recruiting targets participate in the annual NBPA Top 100 Camp this weekend; players UofL has been recruiting hard or that have visited campus.
We will give a run down of each player, their stats for the weekend, and each player’s best game.
*All stats courtesy of basketball.exposureevents.com or prepcircuit.com
(Click more for recruit breakdowns)
Top UofL Basketball Recruiting Target Impresses During First Day Of NBPA Top 100 Camp
Photo Courtesy of Billy Embody, 247sports.com
Day one of the annual NBPA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, VA wrapped up last night. 4 Star G Jahmius Ramsey, one of Coach Chris Mack’s top targets, impressed the recruiting folks at 247sports.com.
Here’s what the article had to say about Ramsey after day 1:
Two 2019 UofL Basketball Recruiting Targets Visited Campus; Jahmius Ramsey Update
Two new 2019 players are on the radar for UofL Coach Chris Mack and staff; Jason Jitoboh a C out of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, TN and G Harlond Beverly out of Southfield Christian Academy in Southfield, MI. Beverly visited last Saturday and Jitoboh visited Thursday.
Photo Courtesy of Jason Jitoboh’s Twitter Account (@JasonJitoboh)
Cards Add Richmond Grad Transfer Khwan Fore
Instagram.com/lucky_ace2
On Saturday Afternoon, Coach Chris Mack and staff received word that Richmond grad transfer Khwan Fore will be wearing a Cardinal uniform this upcoming season.
Khwan originally committed to Tennessee in early May as a grad transfer, but has now decided to join the Cardinals instead. Fore is 6-0 guard from Huntsville, Alabama.
2019 4 Star Forward Visiting UofL
Photo Courtesy of Phenom Hoop Report Twitter Account (@Phenom_Hoops)
The day after Chris Mack landed a big time CG in Josh Nickelberry, he picks up right where he left off by getting a visit from 2019 4 Star SF Jaelyn Withers.
Withers is a 6’8 212 lbs player out of Huntersville, NC. He plays for North Mecklenburg High School and for Team Loaded NC on the AAU circuit. He averaged 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for Team Loaded NC during the 2018 Adidas Gauntlet.
UofL Basketball Gets Their First 2019 Commitment From 4 Star Guard
Photo Courtesy of David Dixon/247sports.com
The fears UofL fans have had about basketball recruiting are allayed tonight after Coach Chris Mack picked up a commitment from 2019 4 Star G Josh Nickelberry.
Nickelberry, a 6’4 175 lbs combo guard out of Northwood Temple Academy in Fayetteville, NC, is a fantastic get for Coach Mack. Nickelberry chose UofL over offers from North Carolina, NC State, Virginia Tech, Florida, and Oklahoma among many others. Coach Mike Pegues was his primary recruiter.
Robbie Valentine Stopped In On Middays With Marques Maybin
Photo Courtesy of KFCYumCenter.com
Robbie Valentine was on air with Marques Maybin and Steve Rummage for the Tuesday May 15th edition of Middays with Marques Maybin. They discussed everything from Robbie’s upcoming 33rd (!) annual basketball camps to the type of recruits coach Mack has been bringing in. They also discussed the incredible Donovan Mitchell and the impact he has had on the Louisville and Utah communities thus far. Take a listen below!
2019 4 Star G Jahmius Ramsey Set To Visit UofL
Photo Courtesy of Billy Embody, 247sports.com
Chris Mack is hammering the 2019 class hard. Just last Friday he had a visit from 4 Star G Josh Nickelberry. Now, on June 2, he has a visit scheduled with another highly touted 4 Star G named Jahmius Ramsey.
Ramsey, a 6’4 180 lbs combo guard, plays for IMG Academy, but is originally from TX. He is the 3rd ranked CG and 35th ranked overall player in the 2019 class per 247sports.com.
Christen Cunningham Officially Signs With UofL
Photo Courtesy of samfordsports.com
Samford Grad Transfer Christen Cunningham is now officially a member of the University of Louisville Men’s Basketball team after signing his financial aid papers.
The 6’2 G will join Darius Perry, Ryan McMahon, and VJ King in the back court for Coach Chris Mack and the Cards. His experience and playmaking ability will be invaluable to a team needing depth at the guard position.
Press Release from the University of Louisville Athletic Department:
Christen Cunningham Joins UofL Basketball Roster
