ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Nov. 9, 2023) U.S. Naval Academy Acting Superintendent Rear Adm. Fred Kacher and Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk present an engraved sword to Pat Kelsey, head men’s basketball coach at the College of Charleston, during the annual Veterans Classic dinner at Farragut House. The annual Veterans Classic brings top NCAA teams to the academy to kick off the college basketball season in an event that pays tribute to the nation’s military veterans. (U.S. Navy photo by Kenneth Aston Jr.)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Another transfer is following new head coach Pat Kelsey to the Louisville men’s basketball program.
James Scott, a center who spent his true freshman season at Charleston with Kelsey, told On3’s Joe Tipton Sunday that he has committed to the Cardinals.
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Scott is the second player to follow Kelsey from Charleston to Louisville, joining guard Reyne Smith, who committed to the Cards on Saturday.
The 6-foot-11, 210-pound big man was a regular rotational contributor for the Cougars this past season. Playing in all 35 games while making four starts, Scott averaged 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in just 16.1 minutes per game, while also leading the team in field goal percentage at an astounding 79.2 percent. He cracked double figures in scoring six times, was twice named the CAA Rookie of the Week, and earned a spot on the CAA All-Rookie Team.
Scott’s play during his freshman campaign has already drawn the attention of some NBA scouts. In a story by the Post & Courier earlier this month, an anonymous scout raved about Scott, saying that “his length, his athleticism, his footwork are exactly what NBA teams are looking for nowadays.”
The Fayetteville, N.C. was regarded as a three-star prospect coming out of high school. Scott ranked as the No. 7 player in the state of North Carolina and the No. 38 center in the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports’ in-house rankings.
Scott and Smith will be far from the last transfer additions for Louisville this offseason. Following the dismissal of second-year head coach Kenny Payne back on Mar. 13, the Cardinals’ roster began to flip immediately.
As of Mar. 30, ten Louisville players have entered the portal following the end of their 2023-24 season. With two more graduating, the only players currently in line to return to the Cardinals are guard Ty-Laur Johnson, and walk-on guard Hercy Miller. UofL also has no committed high school recruits in their Class of 2024.
