Year three under head coach Pat Kelsey brings a different kind of expectation to Louisville.
The Cardinals are no longer simply trying to rebuild; they’re trying to take the next step. After another busy offseason, Louisville enters the 2026-27 season with a talented roster that once again stacks up with the top of the ACC.
The Cardinals are led by established veterans and rookie talents expected to make an immediate impact. Here’s a rundown of every player on the Louisville basketball roster and what you need to know.
#1 Karter Knox
Knox arrives in Louisville by way of the University of Arkansas, where he showed plenty of promise in two seasons. He brings flexibility at the wing position and boasts solid perimeter shooting while also being a slashing threat. At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Knox isn’t afraid to play physical and be an aggressor on either side of the floor.
In February, Knox suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. He finished his sophomore campaign averaging 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. In his freshman season, Knox averaged 8.3 PPG and 3.3 RPG, playing in all 36 games for the Razorbacks.
Coming out of high school, Knox was a target of Louisville, but ended up committing to head coach John Calipari at Kentucky. He later flipped to Arkansas, following the legendary coach. Now Knox is in the Ville, and will play a large role in this season.
#3 Jackson Shelstad:
Shelstad arrives after being ranked the 4th-best point guard in the Transfer Portal (247 Sports). The former University of Oregon Duck spent the past three seasons in Eugene. His 2025-26 season was cut short in December due to a hand injury, playing in only 12 games. Shelstad was on pace for a career year, as he ended with 15.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG and 4.9 APG.
Perhaps the biggest part of Shelstad’s game is his speed. While being a shorter guard at only six-foot-one, Shelstad makes up for it with his quickness with or without the ball in his hands. Shelstad is comparable to Chucky Hepburn with the ability to create for himself and his teammates. His craftiness and ability to get downhill paired with his shooting make him a multi-level threat who should thrive being coached by Kelsey and former Louisville guard Peyton Siva.
#5 London Johnson
We’ve arrived at one of the biggest question marks on this Louisville team. London Johnson redshirted in 2025-26 after joining the roster in December. On Jan. 10, Louisville announced that Johnson would be activated and suit up for the Cardinals, but three days later reversed course and stuck to the original plan of redshirting.
Before coming to Louisville, Johnson played three seasons in the NBA G-League, including two for the Ignite and one between the Maine Red Claws and Cleveland Charge. In his first two years in the league, Johnson competed with the Ignite team, averaging 10.1 PPG, 2.9 APG and 1.9 RPG in his debut season before improving to 10.6 points, 5.1 assists and 2.2 boards in the 2023-24 season. In 2024-25, he played for both the Red Claws and the Charge. Over the course of the year, he only averaged 3.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Johnson is a polished guard who can step in and make an immediate impact due to his pro experience. He is quick for his size and looks to get downhill often, not being afraid of contact. He also flaunts an impressive mid-range game and is an asset at that level. Johnson could very well be a hidden gem on this team and give solid minutes in place of Shelstad.
#6 Boyuan Zhang:
Zhang enters his freshman season after committing to the Cardinals in May. He moved to America from China to play for Veritas Academy in his senior year of high school, and averaged 20.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in the Nike EYBL Scholastic League this past year. Zhang has played with the Chinese national team in the FIBA U16 Asian Championship, FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, U18 Asia Cup and U19 Basketball World Cup. Across those four competitions, Zhang averaged 17.3 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. In 2024, he earned an individual All-Star Award in the U18 Asia Cup after averaging 17.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
The 6-foot-9 wing is a threat on the perimeter and can shoot from deep at a very high clip, not necessarily expected from his size. Zhang also has good quickness and could be of use in transition offense; he’s not afraid to drive and draw contact at the rim. While he is able to score from all three levels, he doesn’t utilize the mid range as often. A comparison to him would be a much bigger and athletic Reyne Smith. After all, he is a lefty who wears the number six.
#7 Alvaro Folgueiras:
Folgueiras joins Louisville poised for a starting role after spending last season as a key reserve for the University of Iowa. He averaged 8.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 2.2 APG coming off the bench for the Hawkeyes and shot 50% from the field. Folgueiras played a notable role in Iowa’s run to the Elite Eight, averaging 11 PPG and 2.8 RPG during the NCAA Tournament, also hitting the game-winning-three to knock off the No. 1 seed University of Florida.
Folgueiras is a skilled stretch four who is a reliable shooter with a smooth release. Although not quick, he’s a powerful driver and is able to use his leverage against his defender. Folgueiras’ instincts and IQ make him a great passer and veteran decision maker on the offensive side. This addition by Pat Kelsey is very under appreciated. Although he only started one game in the 2025-26 season, Folgueiras is ready for a bigger role with the Cardinals, and fans should be excited.
#11 De’Shayne Montgomery:
Montgomery will certainly be a fan favorite inside the Yum! Center this season. The high-flyer from the University of Dayton earned Third Team All-Atlantic-10 honors last season with 13.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 2.1 APG. He started all 36 games for the Flyers and scored double digits in 28 of those appearances.
Montgomery brings solid production to both ends of the floor. On the offensive side, he has good size at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds and likes to play aggressively. While he is a very respectable shooter, he will make you pay at the basket, and is especially dangerous in transition offense. Montgomery embodies the ‘Dunking Cardinal’ by looking to bring the rim down every single time he can.
Defensively, he’s just as dynamic. A great on-ball defender, he can put pressure on his defender and excels at pickpocketing. A periodic press by associate head coach John Andrzejek will have Montgomery licking his chops. When playing off-ball, he jumps the passing lane and takes it the other way. Overall, Montgomery is another underrated pickup by Kelsey.
#14 Adrian Wooley:
Wooley was an important piece to the backcourt rotation last season, and his role will only get bigger. He played in all 35 games and averaged 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, mostly coming from off the bench. Wooley started the final seven games of the season as Mikel Brown Jr was fighting his back injury, and he found his groove. He was thrust into being the primary ball handler and impressed, averaging 11.4 points and 2.7 assists in those seven games. It was evident that as the season progressed, Wooley got more comfortable and showcased the role he can bring to the team.
One of Wooley’s strengths is his perimeter shooting, as he finished last season with a 35% 3-point percentage. The year before that with Kennesaw St, an impressive 42.2%. Whether he’s playing off the ball or has to shake off a defender, Wooley’s long-range is a key aspect of his game. Finally, his ability to absorb contact and stay upright make him an extremely effective driver. His pairing with Shelstad gives Louisville one of the best backcourts in the ACC.
#15 Obinna Ekezie Jr:
Ekezie is Kelsey’s second five-star high schooler to commit to Louisville and is rated by 247 Sports as Louisville’s third highest rated freshman recruit ever. Ekezie reclassified from 2027 to join the Cardinals this season and is now ranked No. 8 in the Class of 2026 by SC Next 100. He attended Southeastern Prep in Orlando, Florida, where he put up 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 60% from the floor last year.
His 7-foot-3 wingspan makes him a great shot blocker and rim protector. On the offensive side, he runs the floor well, is talented in pick and roll sets and is a major lob threat; he plays above the rim and is an anchor in the paint. Ekezie’s addition to this year’s squad brings elite play to the front court and should be an elite pairing with Flory Bidunga.
#22 Isaac Ellis:
Ellis is another player who reclassified from 2027; he was previously committed to South Carolina before flipping to Louisville. He played for the YNG Dreamerz (Moravian Prep) in the Overtime Elite league and was named OTE MVP in 2025-26 after averaging 29.3 points, 8.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game during the regular season. Ellis also broke OTE’s single game scoring record, scoring 56 points on Nov. 14, 2025.
He was a three-star recruit and one of the top players out of North Carolina. The combo guard is a natural fit in the way Kelsey likes to build his offense, being a good shooter not afraid to let it fly from anywhere on the floor. While a bit undersized, Ellis is good at getting downhill, getting to the rim, and being a crafty finisher. It’s to be seen how much time on the court he will see, but Ellis’ competitiveness and will to win exemplifies the culture Kelsey institutes in the program.
#33 Will Hanke:
Hanke is currently the only walk-on on this year’s roster. In his freshman year, he appeared in ten games for the Cardinals and got into the scoring column against the University of Montana.
Hanke is a Louisville native who went to high school at Saint Xavier, where he was a part of two LIT Championships and a Sweet Sixteen appearance, leading the Tigers to one of the most successful seasons in school history.
Hanke showcases ‘25 Strong’, and Pat Kelsey called him a “connector of all connectors.”
“The job Will does behind the scenes to build that power of the unit doesn’t go unnoticed,” Kelsey said.
Hanke also has a podcast called Behind the Grind, check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/@The_BTG_Podcast
#40 Flory Bidunga:
Bidunga was the biggest addition for Kelsey this offseason, as he was ranked by 247 Sports and On3 as the best player to enter the transfer portal. The former McDonald’s All-American spent the previous two seasons at the University of Kansas, where he was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, as well as All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive Team. Bidunga led the Big 12 in blocks (91) and blocks per game (2.6), and was ultimately named finalist for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year. Bidunga also logged five games of 20 or more points and 13 double-doubles.
Kelsey went out and got something his team seriously lacked last year. Bidunga locks down the paint and brings an elite defensive presence. His wingspan and vertical combination make him one of the best shot blockers in the country, and his lateral quickness and strength allow him to jump in ball screens and make plays across his body. He plays above the rim and will have his role cut out for him on the offensive side. He thrives in the dunker’s spot and pick and roll game, and will build a connection with Shelstad early. The revamped Louisville front court should be heavily improved, headlined by Bidunga.
#45: Gabe Dynes
Dynes arrives from USC, where he averaged about 12 minutes per game, putting up 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks this past season. He also recorded nine games with multiple blocks including four against the University of California, Santa Barbara and four at Pennsylvania State University. Previously at Youngstown State University, Dynes was a two-time Horizon League All-Defensive Team selection and named to the All-Freshman Team for the Horizon League in 2023-24. In 2024-25, Dynes finished second nationally with 104 total blocked shots. Dynes is an Independence, Kentucky native.
The addition of Dynes brings something you can’t teach: size. Standing at a staggering 7-foot-5, he gives Louisville a true rim protector and interior presence that can immediately impact and alter games on the defensive end. Dynes won’t be asked to be a featured scorer, and he doesn’t need to be. As long as he can give good minutes and be a disruptor on the defensive end, his services will certainly be worthwhile.
The Roster is Complete
Despite only returning two scholarship players, Pat Kelsey has the Cards poised to be a top contender in the ACC after securing a highly touted portal class, as well as some talented freshmen. The Cardinals finished last year with a 24-11 record, making it to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, marking a step in the right direction following an up-and-down second year under Kelsey. With another roster loaded with proven transfers, high-level talent, and improved size, expectations remain high entering 2026. The Cardinals have all the pieces necessary to compete for an ACC championship and make a deep run in March.
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