Reyne Smith, Chucky Hepburn, D’Vonne Hadley

Louisville basketball players (from left) Reyne Smith, Chucky Hepburn and D’Vonne Hadley speak with reporters on June 27, 2024.

 ERIC CRAWFORD

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Who are these guys? One of the advantages of the University of Louisville's upcoming trip to the Bahamas for a pair of exhibition games is that fans of the Cards — starved for a new start and a return to prominence under first-year coach Pat Kelsey — will begin to get answers to that question.

With 13 new players, you need more than a program to learn the names and faces. You need a spreadsheet.

But in a recent sit-down with WDRB.com, Kelsey made it just a little easier. I asked him to take me on a quick tour of his Louisville roster. Coaches are reluctant to do this, of course, especially before players have appeared in a single game.

I asked him, then, to do a little word association, to give me a single thought or sentence that comes to mind when he hears the name of each player.

The following is what he said:

0 JAMES SCOTT, F, Soph., 6-11 210, Fayetteville, N.C., transfer from College of Charleston

Kelsey's comment: “Just an absolute tireless worker. One of the hardest-working players I’ve ever coached.”

1 J’VONNE HADLEY, G, 5th, 6-6 205, St. Paul, Minn., transfer from Colorado

Kelsey's comment: “Vet. Just a vet. Grown man. Mature. Tough. Productive.”

Louisville coach Pat Kelsey gives a brief thought to each player on his first Louisville roster.

3 KOREN JOHNSON, G, Jr., 6-2 175, Seattle, Wash., transfer from Washington

Kelsey's comment: “Scorin’ Koren. He’s explosive. Go get you a bucket. Talented.”

4 COLE SHERMAN, G-F, Gr. 6-6 190, Louisville, Ky., transfer from Northern Kentucky

Kelsey's comment: “Just a glue guy in the locker room.”

5 TERRENCE EDWARDS JR., G-F, 5th, 6-6 190, Atlanta, Ga., transfer from James Madison

Kelsey's comment: “Fat. You know, Fat. He’s not fat. I can tell you that. I love that nickname, because he was, I guess, chubby as a kid. But he’s everything but that. Gosh, just a winner. Just a dog. People always describe him as just a winner, when the lights are on he’s at his best.”

6 REYNE SMITH, G, Sr,. 6-2 190, Ulverstone, Australia, transfer from College of Charleston

Kelsey's comment: “Big-game Reyne. I’ve coached Reyne for three years and when the lights are brightest, he’s at his best. He’s open when he gets off the bus.”

7 KASEAN PRYOR, F, 5th, 6-10 210, Chicago, Ill., transfer from South Florida

Kelsey's comment: “Yeah, Kasean is, from a personality standpoint, man, he is fun. Kasean is just a big personality. On the floor, man, he is versatile. He’s a matchup nightmare. He’s a guard in a big man’s body.”

9 KHANI ROOTHS, F Fr. 6-8 250, Washington, D.C., freshman out of IMG Academy in Florida

Kelsey's comment: “Khani is mature for a freshman. Just a sponge and just an impressive physical specimen with a great upside.”

12 PATRICK ANTONELLI, G, 5th, 5-11 170, Mount Pleasant, S.C., transfer from Emory & Henry

Kelsey's comment: “Just again, a glue guy in the locker room. Great personality. Hard worker. Great work ethic.”

13 FRANK ANSELM-IBE, C, 5th, 6-10 215, Lagos, Nigeria, transfer from Georgia

Kelsey's comment: “Frank is just beloved by his teammates. Just a great leader. Hard worker. High energy guy.”

24 CHUCKY HEPBURN, G, Sr., 6-2 195, Omaha, Neb., transfer from Wisconsin

Kelsey's comment: “Just the QB, quarterback on the floor I always say give him the ball at 7 at night he gives it back to you safe and sound at 9. That’s what great point guards are.”

25 ABOUBACAR “KADER” TRAORE, F, Sr., 6-5 195, Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire, transfer from Long Beach State

Kelsey's comment: “He goes by Kader (Ca-DEER). Smile lights up a room. High energy. Ridiculous athlete. Very versatile.”

33 AIDAN McCOOL, G Gr. 6-3 170, Charleston, S.C., Louisville returnee

Kelsey's comment: “Another vet. He’s a fixture around here. He’s a great kid, been around a long time.”

93 NOAH WATERMAN, F, 5th, 6-11 220, Savannah, N.Y., transfer from BYU

Kelsey's comment: “A 6-10 sniper. Again, like Reyne, he’s always open. Older guy. That mature winner.”

REDSHIRT PLAYERS

11 KOBE RODGERS, G, Sr., 6-3 180, Cincinnati, Ohio, transfer from College of Charleston

Kelsey's comment: “Kobe’s redshirting this year. He's coming off of a knee injury. Kobe is a winner. Kobe is a winner. I mean, won a national championship at the D-2 level, they went 36-0. Starting point guard on our team for the last, you know, 10 games of the season. So, a winner."

15 ALY KHALIFA, C, Sr., 6-11 270, Alexandria, Egypt, transfer from BYU

Kelsey's comment: “Medical redshirt. Literally a big presence but high, high IQ. One of the best passing big men in the world.”

Louisville is set to face a team from the Bahamas on Tuesday, July 30 at 7 p.m. It will play the University of Calgary on Thursday, August 1, at noon. Both games will be carried on 93.9 FM and broadcast on the Floyd Street Media YouTube channel.

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