An 11th hour surprise for U of L.
Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
The Louisville men’s basketball team was dealt its first major surprise of the of the 2025 offseason when rising junior center James Scott reportedly declared his intention to transfer just moments before the closing of the transfer portal Tuesday night. The news became public Wednesday morning.
A starter in 31 of Louisville’s 35 games last season, Scott averaged 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest. His 80 dunks were both the second-most in the country, and the second-most in a single season in U of L history. Scott also led the Cardinals in total blocks with 30.
After playing his freshman season at Charleston, Scott elected to follow head coach Pat Kelsey and his staff to Louisville. He averaged 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in his one season as a Cougar.
Perhaps not coincidentally, three different transfer portal players with solid size — Baba Miller (FAU), Stephon Payne (Jacksonville) and Nana Owusu-Anane (Brown/SMU — reported on Tuesday that Louisville was among the schools they had been in recent contact with.
I’m still hopeful that James might reconsider here, but if he doesn’t, best of luck to him with whatever’s next.
