LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A little more than a year ago, Pat Kelsey was sleeping in his office, living on his phone and feverishly repopulating a Power 5 program whose entire roster had scattered to the transfer portal winds.

One season, 14 months and 27 wins later, the scramble is over — but the urgency never left. After a bit of a surprise defection by James Scott and an eligibility scare for Ali Khalifa, Kelsey has recrafted his roster for 2025-26 with another highly ranked transfer portal haul and a blue chip freshman, along with some late additions who could fill some needed roles.

This time, his team won't need to learn everything on the fly. Kelsey will have five returning players — somewhat of a luxury in the portal era. Add a top freshman point guard, multiple elite transfers, and the early outlines of a rotation are already in place.

Speaking to a capacity crowd at the Kentucky Derby Festival "They're Off!" Luncheon in April, Kelsey paid tribute to the team that helped revive the program last season. But he acknowledged that the bar is now higher.

"I feel really proud that in a lot of ways, the last two years, you know, before I arrived here, basketball wise, we had faced some adversity," Kelsey said. "There were some tough times, and you could feel it within this community. ... But I'll leave you with this: The best is yet to come. We're going to miss Chucky Hepburn. And we're going to miss Reyne Smith. We're going to miss Terrence Edwards. We're going to miss those guys. They established something again. They put us in a position to compete for national titles, and that is what Louisville basketball is meant to do."

Looking ahead, ESPN has ranked Louisville No. 7 in its "way-too-early" Top 25 July update. That presages a team with goals even higher than last season's second-place ACC finish and runner-up showing in the conference tournament. At this point, the only improvement is a championship — and a deeper NCAA Tournament run.

Kelsey approaches roster building with a major eye toward analytics — or as he calls it, "the back of the bubblegum card." But just as important, and something that showed clearly last season, is his ability to identify players who will buy into his system on both ends of the court.

Offensively, Louisville went from perpetual motion early in the year to more isolation-heavy sets later in the season — largely due to injuries and limited depth. With this second roster, Kelsey hopes to ramp the pace back up, and have the depth to sustain it.

Here's a quick look at the scholarship players who make up the current edition of Kelsey's second Louisville team. (Spencer Legg, Will Hanke, Cole Sherman and Dylan Desbiens are listed as walk-ons.)

RETURNING CORE

 J'Vonne Hadley

Whenever you're putting something together, it helps to have some glue. For Kelsey, that's J'Vonne Hadley — a sixth-year player who was Louisville's leading rebounder and No. 3 scorer last season.

The transfer from Colorado gets an extra season of eligibility because of a year spent at junior college, and he'll use it at Louisville.

"J'Vonne was one of the hearts and souls of our team," Kelsey said. "I say hearts, plural, because we had a lot of guys who were winning guys, who were bought into what we do.

"He's such a versatile player on both sides of the floor. He can guard virtually every single position. He scores when he needs to score. He's on every scouting report. And heck, when we weren't scoring against Clemson, he had 32.

"J'Vonne is a winner."

 Aly Khalifa

Aly Khalifa didn't play last season, but the 6-foot-11-inch transfer from BYU wasn't idle. While rehabbing from knee surgery, he also overhauled his body — dropping nearly 50 pounds, from 299 to around 250.

The senior also survived an eligibility scare after the NCAA initially ruled him ineligible for the coming season. An appeal was granted last week, and Khalifa will be in red this season — all the more important after Scott's decision to transfer to Ole Miss late in the portal window.

His game is unique, and fits Kelsey's system like a glove. He's widely regarded — by Kelsey and others — as "one of the best passing big men in the world."

Just ask his former coach, now Kentucky's head man, Mark Pope. Speaking in Lexington before this past season, Pope talked about what he learned from coaching Khalifa at BYU.

More on Aly Khalifa: "The Egyptian Magician"

"He actually changed the way that I think about processing the game," Pope said. "Changed passing angles, changed alternatives, and changed the whole process of tracking — tracking as a big, when you're working in any number of actions."

If healthy, Khalifa could give Louisville a valuable offensive weapon — a big who can stretch the floor, move the ball like a guard, and anchor the offense while being an occasional outside threat.

Khani Rooths

Khani Rooths, a 6-foot-8-inch sophomore from Washington, D.C., appeared in all 35 games for Louisville last season, averaging 3.3 points and three rebounds. The numbers were modest, but his flashes were meaningful — including 12 points and seven boards in a key conference win at SMU and 10 points in a December loss to Duke.

In today's college basketball climate, getting a promising freshman back is an accomplishment. And for Kelsey, Rooths brings something to build on — length, shooting touch, and growing confidence as a defender.

A former four-star recruit, he showed signs of comfort as the year went on. In Year 2, the Cardinals may need more than flashes from him — and Rooths could be ready to take that next step.

Kasean Pryor

Kasean Pryor never got the season he was supposed to have. The 6-foot-11-inch, 225-pound forward had become a centerpiece early in the 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.

Like many Louisville players, he started slow from three-point range. Unlike the rest, he never got a chance to find his rhythm. Pryor will get a final college season.

His decision to return to Louisville was significant. While his numbers weren't huge in his short playing time last season, his presence on the court had come to mean something to the team just starting to come together.

Pryor updates his injury status

Even before Pryor announced his decision to return, Kelsey said on April 11 that he expected him to be a major part of the team.

"He's on our stinkin' roster," the coach said. "Kasean's my guy; he's like a son to me. I love him, but it's just this new world; you have to get things straightened out from a business standpoint."

Kobe Rodgers

When talk turns to Louisville's backcourt next season, the conversation usually centers on the newcomers — the flashy freshmen or high-profile transfers. But it would be a mistake to overlook Kobe Rodgers. He brings something no one else on the roster does: a national championship.

Before joining Kelsey at Charleston, Rodgers started every game for a Nova Southeastern team that went 36-0 and won the NCAA Division II title. He scored 21 points in the national semifinal and averaged 13.2 points in the tournament.

Two seasons ago at Charleston, he averaged nearly 10 points and five rebounds per game, while shooting 45% from three-point range.

"Just a winner," Kelsey said. "A winner."

NEWCOMERS

Mikel Brown Jr.

Mikel Brown Jr. didn't just commit to Louisville — he made an entrance, complete with a video reveal during the Cardinals' win over North Carolina on Jan. 1.

Since then, the five-star point guard from Orlando, Florida, has played in the McDonald's All-American Game and wrapped up a standout season at DME Academy, where he averaged nearly 30 points per game and shot better than 41% from three.

CRAWFORD | Is Mikel Brown the freshman Louisville has been waiting for?

In the U19 FIBA World Cup in Switzerland, Brown has been a standout, posting back-to-back 24-point games to lead Team USA in the group stage while averaging nearly six assists per game.

Brown is a consensus top-10 prospect in the 2025 class and is widely considered one of the top two point guards in the nation.

"Mikel is a generational talent," Kelsey said. "He transforms the game and embodies everything we stand for as a program. His skill, vision and leadership on the court are unmatched — but it's his character, humility and heart that truly set him apart.

"Mikel's commitment to his craft is relentless, and his dedication to this program and to the city of Louisville will be top tier."

Adrian Wooley

One of the most sought-after guards in the transfer portal, Adrian Wooley picked Louisville over a long list of suitors — including his hometown program, Alabama. No small feat with a guy who graduated from Paul Bryant High School.

The 6-foot-3-inch freshman from Kennesaw State averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game on 51% shooting last season. He was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year and earned first-team all-league honors.

His ability to score, create and defend multiple positions should make him an immediate contributor in Louisville's backcourt.

"Adrian was one of the nation's top-producing freshmen this past year," Kelsey said. "He's a two-way player with a high basketball IQ, a dynamic scorer and playmaker who can guard multiple spots.

"As we did our background on him, it became clear his character and professionalism matched his talent. He's already endeared himself to Card Nation by being the first player to say 'yes' in the portal — and that love will only grow when he puts the jersey on."

Isaac McKneely

Louisville fans know Isaac McKneely — they've game-planned for him.

The 6-foot-4-inch guard started all 32 games for Virginia last season, averaging 14.4 points per game while shooting 41% from three. Of his 152 field goals, 101 were from beyond the arc. He led the ACC in three-point percentage and finished second in total threes made — behind only Louisville's Reyne Smith.

In two seasons with the Cavaliers, McKneely averaged 12.5 points per game against Louisville.

"As a head coach, there are guys on every team you lose sleep over during prep — and Isaac McKneely was 1000% one of those guys both times we played him this year," Kelsey said.

"One of his special gifts is shot-making, but his basketball IQ, athleticism, passing ability and competitive nature are all strengths. Isaac comes from a close-knit family that values what we value as a program. He's a selfless, faith-driven young man who will be a major factor in our success — both on the court and in the Louisville community."

Ryan Conwell

Ryan Conwell arrives at Louisville after a standout season at Xavier, where he started all 34 games and averaged 16.4 points per game — second-best on the team — while shooting 41% from three-point range.

The 6-foot-4-inch combo guard had transferred home to Cincinnati after spending the previous season at Indiana State, where he helped lead a run to the NIT championship game and averaged 16.6 points per game while starting every contest. He drew interest from Big Ten and Big 12 programs before ultimately choosing Louisville.

"Ryan is a pro in every sense of the word — on and off the court," Kelsey said. "One person we spoke to who had been around him a long time told us he's one of the best humans they've ever worked with. That's powerful praise.

"He's one of the best all-around guards in the collegiate game. He's efficient, experienced, and thrives in big moments. His leadership qualities will bolster an already veteran, mature locker room — and Card Nation is going to love his bravado."

Sananda Fru

Of all Louisville's newcomers, Sananda Fru may be the most intriguing — mostly because so little is known about him.

The 6-foot-10-inch, 245-pound power forward is currently playing for Löwen Braunschweig in Germany's top professional league. He brings a 7-foot-2-inch wingspan and a versatile game to Louisville — and at 22 years old, he'll arrive with more physical maturity than the typical first-year player.

"Sananda is an impact player for our program from Day 1," Kelsey said. "... He has athleticism, skill, and basketball IQ. He impacts winning on both ends of the floor. He's very good in the pick and roll as a lob threat and finisher," Kelsey said. "But I believe his game is evolving before our eyes as a viable three-point threat as well. He's got very good shooting mechanics, and in our system, his confidence in that area will skyrocket."

"He blocks shots, he moves his feet — he's a very good 'switch big,' which is extremely valuable in modern basketball," Kelsey added. "He's played against grown men in one of Europe's best pro leagues. And on top of all that, Sananda is a terrific person. We're thrilled to have him."

For now, Fru remains a bit of a wild card. But if his game translates, he could be a quietly important piece in Kelsey's frontcourt mix.

Vangelos Zougris

The 6-foot-8-inch, 250-pound forward from Athens, Greece, spent the past four seasons playing professionally for Peristeri Athens in the Greek Basketball League.

He averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds this past season while shooting 65% from the field in 27 games — and showed enough to earn a spot on the Greek national team, where he moved up to the senior squad in 2023 after years with the junior team. He was named to the All-Tournament team at European FIBA events in both 2023 and 2024.

Kelsey said Zougris is about more than the stats — it's how he plays.

"Card Nation will love his grit, relentless motor and the unbridled passion he plays with on every possession," Kelsey said. "His IQ and skill level are outstanding. He plays very well out of the pick and roll and finishes well around the basket with both power and touch."

Defensively, he brings versatility — able to switch onto guards, challenge shots at the rim, and battle on the glass. Kelsey even highlighted his ability as a screener, calling it "an unsung key to modern offense" and something Zougris does "at an elite level."

Mouhamed Camara

The 6-foot-8-inch forward heads to The Ville from the NBA Academy in Africa, and wil need some time to develop, but Kelsey likes his potential, and athleticism. His immediate value may come on the defensive end.

"Mo is a big-time athlete who has the ability to be an elite defender early in his career," said Kelsey. "He can guard every position on the floor and disrupts both on the ball and at the rim. He has great tools and a mindset that craves coaching, which will allow him to develop quickly. He will be playing on an experienced, veteran team which will allow him to learn and grow daily. We are very excited to have him here at Louisville."

He competed in the FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers in 2025 as a member of Senegal's Senior National Team, helping them qualify for the official tournament played in August in Angola. 

During the 2024 NBA Academy Winter Tour, Camara showed off his defensive prowess with multiple games of three or more blocks and steals. He logged four blocks and eight steals against the NBA Global Academy on Dec. 20.

Looking ahead

That's the group — for now. There's still room for additions, as Kelsey continues to explore options in the transfer portal, particularly among big men. The group has been on campus -- with Brown taking a break for international play. They will get some time off before reconvening at the end of the month.

"It's crazy. It never stops. But it's great crazy. I say all the time, it beats working for a living," Kelsey said. "When I start thinking about next season, I do it with goosebumps on my arm — because of the players we have coming back, and the ones we have coming in. And I couldn't be more excited."

With one season of progress in the books and a deeper, more balanced roster on the way, Kelsey isn't just building a team — he's building expectations.

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