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6-4: Ranking Louisville basketball's scholarship players in 2025-26

IMG_6080 3by: William McDermott10/08/25804derm
Jan 11, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Isaac McKneely (11) dribbles against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Jan 11, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Isaac McKneely (11) dribbles against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Pat Kelsey and seniors Ryan Conwell and J’Vonne Hadley were at ACC Tip Off in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday. Meaning we’re mere days away from the college basketball season and the Cardinals’ exhibition opener against Kansas.

Let’s continue our countdown to the season.

On top of our player profile series in the weeks leading up to then, Cardinal Sports will rank the U of L scholarship players 1-12. 

Players will be ranked based on their preseason projections, level of importance to a successful season, previous statistics, and more. 

Previous rankings can be found here: 12-10, 9-7

Here are the players on the roster ranked No. 6 — No. 4

6.) Adrian Wooley

6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Sophomore — Tuscaloosa, Alabama

2024-25 Stats: 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals

Wooley is on the path to be Louisville’s best scorer and playmaker at some point down the line. That won’t be this season, as the jump from Kennesaw State to ACC basketball will provide some challenges for the combo guard, but eventually, he’s expected to be a great Cardinal. Wooley will likely see a massive role off the bench this season, and with veterans above him in the pecking order, he’ll have the opportunity to play off-ball more than he did a season ago. 

He’ll also have plenty of good looks off the catch after shooting 42.2 percent from downtown as a freshman. Look for the lefty to get a lot of opportunities around the basket as a cutter and baseline driver. He’s patient and has excellent footwork for his age. Wooley uses his length around the basket, and although he may not be an elite or explosive athlete, his frame gives him the upper hand against similarly sized defenders. 

Defensively, the staff thinks he’s underrated, and I tend to agree. His intangibles on D are some of the best on the roster for his position, and remind me of a Terrence Edwards Jr. with less experience. It’s difficult to project his role over the course of a whole season because of the step up in competition, but Wooley will have his moments and should be a scoring option off the bench. 

5.) Sananda Fru

6-foot-11, 245 pounds, Junior — Berlin, Germany

2024-25 Stats: N/A

Fru is simply not being talked about enough in ACC and college basketball circles. He’s the best starting center Pat Kelsey has ever had, and with four years of professional experience in Germany‘s BBL, Fru should be able to have an All-ACC caliber season as one of the best all-around bigs in the league. 

I’m high on Fru; he fits the Kelsey system on both ends. He’s the best roll man on the team, is an excellent lob threat, can post up, and is an elite rim protector. The German runs the floor well, rebounds at an exceptional rate (seven a game last season), and Fru comes in with experience that won’t be challenged in high-major play. Fru’s versatility as a big makes him different than the others on the roster. His verticality and athleticism stand out, plus he has a soft touch around the basket while being comfortable enough to put the ball on the floor for a few dribbles away from the basket — something Louisville didn’t have at his position last year. He’s also a capable standstill shooter and uses his size without fouling on defense. 

Frus is about as polished as it gets for an incoming high-major starter at center. 

4.) Isaac McKneely

6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Senior — Poca, West Virginia 

2024-25 Stats: 14.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists 

McKneely made over 100 3s last season and also shot 44 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. He produced these numbers on UVA team’s offense, which was consistently one of the worst and slowest in the nation. Now, coming into a Louisville offense that averaged the most 3s attempted in the conference. McKneely’s been one of the best shooters in the ACC for two years now, and stepping into Reyne Smith’s role as a movement shooter in this Louisville starting lineup should be seamless. 

Smith may be the better spot-up shooter, but McKneely provides a little more versatility to the lineup with his size and ability to score from all levels. Averaging 14.4 points a game, he can also handle the basketball and make plays running the offense. Not to mention, McKneely has played in this league for three seasons and has been a consistent 30-minute-a-game player. That experience has to matter. 

The further we get down in these rankings, you start to see the depth of this roster, with McKneely’s role likely seeing a decrease from what it was at UVA, yet he’s the most proven shooter on the team.

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