Louisville transfer big man Aly Khalifa ruled ineligible by NCAA, will appeal

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Aly Khalifa, a 6-foot-11-inch BYU transfer expected to anchor Louisville's frontcourt next season, has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA — a decision he plans to appeal with the help of legal counsel.

"University of Louisville men’s basketball student-athlete Aly Khalifa’s request for an extension of his five-year clock that would allow him to utilize his fourth and final season of eligibility was denied by the NCAA," the school said in a statement Thursday. "The university is appealing that decision and believes that Aly has a strong case that warrants an additional year. After earning his bachelor’s degree, Aly continues to work towards a master’s degree at the University while preparing for the 2025-26 basketball season."

Khalifa, a native of Alexandria, Egypt, transferred to Louisville ahead of Pat Kelsey's first season as head coach but redshirted while recovering from knee surgery. During his rehab, he dropped 50 pounds and frequently expressed excitement about the 2025-26 season on social media.

His game is as distinctive as his journey — and tailor-made for Kelsey's system. He's widely regarded, including by Kelsey himself, as "one of the best passing big men in the world."

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Just ask his former coach, Kentucky's Mark Pope. Speaking in Lexington before last season, Pope described how Khalifa changed the way he thought about the game.

"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 was expected to give Louisville a versatile offensive weapon — a floor-stretching center who can facilitate like a guard and knock down outside shots when needed.

Khalifa has played three college seasons: the 2023-24 campaign at BYU and the two prior years at Charlotte.

He started 26 of 29 games for Pope at BYU, averaging 5.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 31.5% from three-point range. His assist-to-turnover ratio (3.6:1) led all centers nationally.

As a sophomore at Charlotte, he averaged 11.1 points and 6.3 rebounds while starting 34 games. He was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2021-22.

Across his college career, Khalifa has totaled 315 assists to just 142 turnovers and has shot 35% from beyond the arc.