And now-uh let’s meet your-a University of-a Loo-uh-vullllllll!!!! Cardinals.*

John Tong voice.

At guard from Tuscaloosa, Alabama . . . Adrian Wooley.

AW* is the lone holdover who saw action for the Cards last season. Playing 22 minutes a game, the 6-4 PG/SG averaged 8.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg. 35% from long range. 62 assists vs. 39 turnovers. 24 steals.

*When keeping in game notes, I use players initials as shorthand. Given there are no duplicates, it may/ probably will carry over to GameCaps. Deal with it.

At guard from Norcross, Georgia . . . London Johnson.

The redshirted 6-3 former ****/ Georgia state champion/ G League player is U of L’s wild card mystery baller. To say the least. In ’21 he played for Jamaica in the FIBA CentroBasket U17 tourney. Averaged 36 ppg in five tilts.

At guard from West Linn, Oregon . . . Jackson Shelstad. 

The 6-1 TP PG averaged 15.6 ppg, 4.9 assists last year in an injury shortened season for the Oregon Ducks. Tallied 25 against Arizona in ’25 Round of 32 game against Arizona on 9/14 shooting.

At guard from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida . . . De’Shayne Montgomery.

Last campaign at Dayton, PG/SG peripatetic DM led the Flyers with 77 steals. Averaged 13.4 ppg, 2.1 apg and 4.0 rpg. As a frosh, he scored 20 or more in six of his last seven games at Mount St. Mary’s. He also played a season at Georgia.

At guard from Hickory, North Carolina . . . Isaac Ellis. 

The reclassifier was MVP of the Overtime Elite League, averaging 29.3 ppg, 8.9 apg and 4.8 rpg. Put up a fiftysixburger against eventual league champ.

At guard from Louisville, Kentucky . . . Will Hanke.

OK, I recant a previous statement. (See AW blurb.) WH, a former St. X Tiger, saw action in ten games last year for the Cardinals. Scored against Montana, grabbed a couple ORB against NJIT.

At center/ forward from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Conngo . . . Flory Bidunga.

Ranked at top of portal class, FB was Big 12 Defensive Player of Year at Kansas, led the league in blocks despite being shorter than listed 6-10. Shot 64% from field and crafted 13 double doubles. 13.3 ppg and 9.0 rpg. 2.6 blocks a contest. Played HS ball in Kokomo, Indiana.

At center from Independence, Kentucky . . . Gabe Dynes.

At 7-5, GD is tallest Cardinal ever. Significant presence underneath. Duh. Videos indicate he moves well and is more agile than one might guess from his size. In ’24-’25 at Youngstown State, he led the country in blocks with 104 in 34 games. TPer from Southern Cal chose U of L over UK.

At center/ forward from Orlando, Florida . . . Obinna Ekezie Jr.

The ***** reclassifier was ranked #1 pivot in class of ’27. Played in 8th grade at St. Raphael, much to the chagrin and outrage of parents of the school’s opponents.

At forward from Malaga, Spain . . . Alvaro Folgueiras.

AF is most known for hitting clutch trey for Iowa to oust defending champ Florida from last year’s Dance. Averaged 11.0 ppg during Hawkeyes’ run to Elite Eight. Previously he played for Robert Morris, where he was Horizon League PoY, shooting 54.8% from field, and 41.3% from beyond arc.

At forward from Tampa, Florida . . . Karter Knox.

The 6-6 junior toiled for two seasons in Fayetteville. 38% shooter from distance last season. Hits 4 of every 5 at charity stripe. Father played football at Florida State. One brother played at Kentucky, another is now playing at South Carolina.

At forward from Jilin, China . . . Boyuan Zhang.

BZ averaged 20.2 ppg for Veritas Academy in Cali last campaign. He’s a veteran of several international competitions, playing for his home country. Averaged 17. ppg for U18 Chinese national squad. Scored 14.7 ppg in U19 World Cup. Along with 5.1 rebounds.

Given that roster slots are available, one has to assume Coach Pat Kelsey and staff are sifting through the seeds and stems, looking for one last bud.

— c d kaplan