Kasean Pryor says he’ll be ready for Louisville’s season opener

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kasean Pryor said he'll be ready for Louisville's season opener — and for the Kentucky game — and that's an answer he's been eager to give.

On Saturday at a youth camp he hosted in Louisville, the University of Louisville senior had a more definitive update than has been given yet on his recovery from a torn ACL that sidelined him in last season's sixth game.

"I'm feeling really good," Pryor told WDRB's Haley Schoengart, who caught up with him before a camp session. "I just hit eight months recovery, post-surgery, so I've got about another month to five weeks to try to fully get back into it and I will be back playing. So, I will be ready first game of the season – everybody's been asking. I will be ready for the Kentucky (game). So I feel good. A few more weeks of rehab and I'll be right there."

The 6-foot-11, 225-pound forward had become a centerpiece early last year, moving into the starting lineup and averaging 12 points per game. But in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis, he tore his ACL — and missed the rest of the season.

aaaaaand the answer everyone has been wanting to know pic.twitter.com/DlbeHhx5zE
— Haley Schoengart (@HaleyPaige7) August 9, 2025

A little less than a month ago, Louisville coach Pat Kelsey said Pryor's recovery was "on pace and maybe a little ahead of schedule."

In a podcast interview with CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein last week, Kelsey praised Pryor's leadership during his time on the sideline.

"He was a great teammate last year. Really led," Kelsey said. "And, you know, talking to him recently, it's like being able to step back and watch things and have a different perspective has allowed him to learn a lot more about not just basketball in general, but our system. He's just an absolute disruptor on the defensive end. He disrupts the ball. He deflects off the ball. He can rim protect. He's terrific in pick-and-roll coverage. Just a dynamic college player and we're excited to have back at some point."

Pryor said Louisville coaches and trainers have been a tremendous aid in his recovery – as have the constant well-wishes from Louisville fans. More than 100 kids participated in a back-to-school basketball camp he held at Shoot 360 on Saturday.

"No doubt, during my injury the support and love I received from the city was just unbelievable," Pryor said. "Louisville's become almost my second home. The people have been great to me."

Louisville opens exhibition play against Kansas in the KFC Yum! Center on Oct. 24.