LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Where Are They Now will need to be a monthly feature in the college basketball scene, because the transfer portal has become the game's equivalent of Hartsfield International Airport, dispatching players across the nation.
We've seen the 13 new players that coach Pat Kelsey has recruited to set the University of Louisville men's program on a winning path. But the spots that opened were vacated by guys who were part of the U of L program for one, two, three or four seasons.
A dozen of them are eager to prove they can win at their new homes in ways they were unable to win at Louisville. Eight of the dozen have changed uniform numbers at their new homes.
Mike James and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, former Cards who transferred to Kevin Keatts' Final Four program at North Carolina State, say they are driven by that concept.
"We definitely went through some hard times (at Louisville). We don't want to go through that again," James told Rodd Baxley of the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. (Story link.)
"That's what me and (Huntley-Hatfield) were talking about when we were in the portal, like, 'We can't do this another season. We gotta win. We gotta experience what some of these guys here experienced.' So, it's a big-time hunger that we have in us. We're just ready to get to work and win some games."
"We just want to come in and show people that just because our team was bad, we're not bad individual players," Huntley-Hatfield said.
"I feel like this was both of our opportunities to come to an already-established winning program to show that we can contribute to winning."
We'll be watching those two as well as 10 others. Here's a rundown of the former Cardinals:
Huntley-Hatfield, North Carolina State: Huntley-Hatfield has been issued No. 1 jersey for the Wolfpack after he wore No. 5 here. He will team with Will Middlebrooks for the massive task of replacing Wolfpack center D.J. Burns. He averaged 12.9 points and 8.4 boards for Kenny Payne last season.
James, North Carolina State: James will wear his trademark No. 0 for the Wolfpack and should fit nicely in the backcourt rotation with veterans Jaydon Taylor and Michael O'Connell. James averaged 12.5 points for the Cards last season but shot less than 40% from the field.
The Wolfpack will play their first exhibition game against Lees-McRae Wednesday. N.C. State will host Louisville Feb. 12.
Ty-Laur Johnson, Wake Forest: The former Cards point guard will wear No. 8 for the Demon Deacons after wearing No. 4 for the Cards.
He scored 10 points with four assists and five turnovers while playing more than 22 minutes as a substitute in Wake's 98-77 exhibition loss to Alabama.
Wake coach Steve Forbes complimented Johnson in his comments to Blue Ribbon magazine, saying that Johnson is "a pass-first player. I've really been impressed with him."
Wake will visit U of L on Jan. 28
Skyy Clark, UCLA: The Cards former point guard who scored 36 points in his final game against N.C. State, should start in the Bruins' backcourt as Mick Cronin tries to get UCLA back into the Top 25 and NCAA Tournament after a one-season absence.
Clark will stick with No. 55 as the Bruins play their first exhibition Wednesday against Cal State LA. The Bruins will visit Indiana for a nationally televised game on Feb. 14. Happy Valentine's Day.
Tre White, Illinois: Wearing his favorite No. 22, White started and played 18 minutes as the Illini lost their exhibition game at Ole Miss, 91-74, on Sunday. He scored nine points with six rebounds and no assists. White made one of three shots from distance and did not get to the line.
Curtis Williams, Georgetown: The Hoyas have yet to play an exhibition, but Williams and Harvard transfer Malik Mack are expected to play major roles as coach Ed Cooley begins his second-year of rebuilding the program.
Williams will wear No. 11. He was No. 1 for the Cards. Former U of L and Indiana assistant coach Kenny Johnson is also a member of the Hoyas' staff.
Cooley told Blue Ribbon that he liked Williams' athleticism but his playing time would depend upon how quickly he picked up "all the philosophies of which we're trying to play."
J.J. Traynor, DePaul: Wearing No. 20, Traynor was the second man off the bench for new coach Chris Holtmann as the Blue Demons won their exhibition opener over Illinois Wesleyan, 76-60. Credit Traynor with six points and four rebounds in 17 minutes. He wore No. 12 for the Cards.
Emmanuel Okorafor, Seton Hall: After 1 1/2 seasons at Louisville, Okorafor is expected to play a backup center role for coach Shaheen Holloway with the Pirates. Seton Hall opens play against Saint Peter's Nov. 4. He switched from No. 34 to No. 23.
Kaleb Glenn, Florida Atlantic: Glenn, the former star at Male High School, was the third guy off the bench in the Owls' 104-53 exhibition win over Saint Leo.
He earned 19 minutes and led the Owls with nine rebounds while scoring 10 points. Glenn will wear No. 1 for FAU, which plays an exhibition with Auburn Friday and then opens against Indiana State in a game that will be played in Xenia, Ohio on Monday. He wore No. 10 for Louisville.
Danilo Jovanovich, Milwaukee: A Milwaukee native, Jovanovich returned home after one season at Miami and another with the Cards.
He'll have to fight for playing time because the Panthers return four starters from a team that won 20 games and is predicted to win the Horizon League by Blue Ribbon. He switched from No. 13 to 24.
Dennis Evans, Grand Canyon: According to the Grand Canyon website, Evans has been out with an injury and is not expected to play in the team's first exhibition Tuesday night.
Evans played in only seven games for the Cards last season before he was shut down for an undisclosed injury. Although there were reports that Evans would not be medically cleared to play, he signed with Bryce Drew and the Antelopes in April. He is listed at 7 feet, 1 inch tall and 215 pounds at the Grand Canyon website and will wear No. 14 after wearing 11 as a Cardinal.
Hercy Miller, Southern Utah: After opting out of the second half of last season with the Cards, Miller signed with coach Rob Jeter and the Thunderbirds, who are picked to finish eighth in the Western Athletic Conference. No stats were available from the team's exhibition opener Monday night. Miller will stick with No. 15.
Louisville Basketball Coverage:
- BOZICH | 3 things to like from Louisville's 99-54 exhibition win over Spalding
- CRAWFORD | Pryor pays tribute to late mentor ahead of Louisville's final exhibition
- BOZICH | Louisville drops 24 three-pointers on Young Harris in 106-59 opening exhibition win
- CRAWFORD | From Africa to Louisville: Traore brings different kind of 'money' mindset
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