LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Pat Kelsey didn't just introduce London Johnson on Tuesday. He defended him.
As Louisville officially announced the addition of the 6-foot-3-inch NBA G-League guard, the most striking part of the release wasn't Johnson's résumé. It was the head coach's quote.
"He is a trailblazer in a lot of ways and has handled the unwarranted scrutiny like the mature, classy young man that he is," Kelsey said in a statement. "In my opinion, he deserves an opportunity to play collegiate basketball like every other player within his five-year window from high school."
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With those words, Kelsey doubled down on a bold roster-building decision — adding a professional player midseason who has already spent parts of three years in the G-League system. Johnson will redshirt the remainder of this season and suit up for Louisville in 2026-27.
"Times have changed," Kelsey continued. "And we choose to embrace change rather than just complain about it ... especially when it creates opportunities for student-athletes like London."
Johnson, a native of Norcross, Georgia, was a four-star high school recruit before reclassifying and joining the G-League Ignite team at age 17. He went on to play 100 G-League games across three seasons with the Ignite, the Maine Red Claws and the Cleveland Charge. His best year came in 2023-24, when he averaged 10.6 points, 5.1 assists and 2.2 rebounds.
This season, he's averaged 3.2 points and 1.9 assists in limited action.
While the numbers are modest, the upside is clear. Johnson was a state champion at Norcross High School, scoring 27 points in the Georgia Class 7A title game as a junior. He was a Gatorade Player of the Year finalist and starred for Jamaica's U17 national team, averaging 36 points per game in a FIBA competition at age 17.
Kelsey believes the G-League experience — and the challenges that came with it — will pay off.
"London brings experience, talent, toughness and a winning mindset," Kelsey said. "Like all of the players that are welcomed into our organization, his life is about to change for the better, which is what we do, and we can't wait to get him to campus to start that process."
The Cardinals are expected to bring Johnson to campus this winter.
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