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Louisville completed one of the more dramatic turnarounds in recent men’s college basketball history last season, when the Cardinals went 27-8 — surpassing their win total from the previous three seasons combined — and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.
They may have even more in store for their second season under coach Pat Kelsey.
Since getting eliminated by Creighton in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Louisville has been on a tear in the transfer portal, where it has landed several impact players to restock a roster that is losing all-ACC honorees Chucky Hepburn and Terrence Edwards Jr., among others.
REQUIRED READING: Final Four reseed: Power rankings of the teams left in March Madness
In the past four days, Kelsey has secured commitments from three guards who are ranked among the top 15 players in the portal by 247Sports, giving his team what should be one of the top backcourts in the country next season.
In the hours after the Cardinals’ early NCAA Tournament exit, reports emerged that they were preparing to spend $8-$10 million in the portal. Now, those efforts are coming into clearer focus as the program aims to get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2013.
Here’s a closer look at Louisville’s work so far in the transfer portal:
This week alone, Cardinals have landed three players in the transfer portal:
Each of Louisville’s most recent additions is ranked among the top 15 players in 247’s ranking of the top available transfers nationally. Wooley is No. 5, Conwell is No. 12 and McKneely is No. 14.
If there’s a unifying trait between the three players, besides being guards, it’s outside shooting. Wooley shot 42.2% from 3-point range last season while earning Conference USA freshman of the year honors. Conwell, who previously starred at Indiana State, shot 41.2% from beyond the arc last season at Xavier, where he was a third-team all-Big East selection. McKneely was the top 3-point shooter in the ACC last season, making 42.1% of his attempts. The three combined to make 273 of their 653 3s last season (41.8%).
Each member of the trio projects to be a valuable piece in Kelsey’s offense, which prioritizes 3-point shooting. The Cardinals were 20th among Division I teams in 3-point rate last season, according to KenPom.
REQUIRED READING: This Final Four isn't the 2008 March Madness party of No. 1 seeds. Here's why
With McKneely’s commitment, the Cardinals have the top 2025 transfer class, according to 247’s updated team rankings.
Louisville’s points in 247’s rankings (34.74) are the most ever for a transfer portal class, though, like many outlets, 247 didn’t have comprehensive team and player portal rankings until 2022, shortly after the NCAA allowed players to transfer without the penalty of having to sit out a year.
Here’s a look at 247’s updated team portal rankings:
Wooley averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 42.2% from 3-point range for Kennesaw State last season.
Conwell averaged 16.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45% from the field and 41.2% from 3-point range for Xavier last season.
McKneely averaged 14.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range for Virginia last season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Louisville basketball transfer tracker: Cardinals have top-rated portal class
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They may have even more in store for their second season under coach Pat Kelsey.
Since getting eliminated by Creighton in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Louisville has been on a tear in the transfer portal, where it has landed several impact players to restock a roster that is losing all-ACC honorees Chucky Hepburn and Terrence Edwards Jr., among others.
REQUIRED READING: Final Four reseed: Power rankings of the teams left in March Madness
In the past four days, Kelsey has secured commitments from three guards who are ranked among the top 15 players in the portal by 247Sports, giving his team what should be one of the top backcourts in the country next season.
In the hours after the Cardinals’ early NCAA Tournament exit, reports emerged that they were preparing to spend $8-$10 million in the portal. Now, those efforts are coming into clearer focus as the program aims to get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2013.
Here’s a closer look at Louisville’s work so far in the transfer portal:
Louisville transfer portal tracker
This week alone, Cardinals have landed three players in the transfer portal:
- Kennesaw State G Adrian Wooley: Committed March 31
- Xavier G Ryan Conwell: Committed April 1
- Virginia G Isaac McKneely: Committed April 3
Each of Louisville’s most recent additions is ranked among the top 15 players in 247’s ranking of the top available transfers nationally. Wooley is No. 5, Conwell is No. 12 and McKneely is No. 14.
If there’s a unifying trait between the three players, besides being guards, it’s outside shooting. Wooley shot 42.2% from 3-point range last season while earning Conference USA freshman of the year honors. Conwell, who previously starred at Indiana State, shot 41.2% from beyond the arc last season at Xavier, where he was a third-team all-Big East selection. McKneely was the top 3-point shooter in the ACC last season, making 42.1% of his attempts. The three combined to make 273 of their 653 3s last season (41.8%).
Each member of the trio projects to be a valuable piece in Kelsey’s offense, which prioritizes 3-point shooting. The Cardinals were 20th among Division I teams in 3-point rate last season, according to KenPom.
REQUIRED READING: This Final Four isn't the 2008 March Madness party of No. 1 seeds. Here's why
Louisville basketball transfer portal ranking
With McKneely’s commitment, the Cardinals have the top 2025 transfer class, according to 247’s updated team rankings.
Louisville’s points in 247’s rankings (34.74) are the most ever for a transfer portal class, though, like many outlets, 247 didn’t have comprehensive team and player portal rankings until 2022, shortly after the NCAA allowed players to transfer without the penalty of having to sit out a year.
Here’s a look at 247’s updated team portal rankings:
- Louisville (3 commits)
- LSU (3 commits)
- Iowa (4 commits)
- St. John’s (2 commits)
- South Carolina (4 commits)
- Baylor (3 commits)
- Indiana (2 commits)
- Michigan (2 commits)
- Ole Miss (2 commits)
- Creighton (2 commits)
Adrian Wooley stats
Wooley averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 42.2% from 3-point range for Kennesaw State last season.
Ryan Conwell stats
Conwell averaged 16.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45% from the field and 41.2% from 3-point range for Xavier last season.
Isaac McKneely stats
McKneely averaged 14.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range for Virginia last season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Louisville basketball transfer tracker: Cardinals have top-rated portal class
Continue reading...
