Louisville, Kentucky – The Louisville men’s basketball program has welcomed another player under the guidance of new head coach Pat Kelsey.
Kobe Rodgers, a point guard who played for Kelsey at Charleston this past season, has committed to the Cardinals, as reported by Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68. Rodgers is expected to redshirt the upcoming 2024-25 season, likely due to a left leg injury he sustained during Charleston’s NCAA Tournament opener against Alabama.
Rodgers becomes the third player to make the move from Charleston to Louisville alongside head coach Pat Kelsey. Reyne Smith and James Scott were the initial two transfers to commit to Louisville following Kelsey’s appointment in late March.
Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 180 pounds, Rodgers played a significant role as Charleston’s primary backcourt reserve in the previous season, earning several starts. Across 31 games, including 18 starts, he maintained averages of 9.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and led the team with 1.2 steals per game. Rodgers also showcased efficiency, shooting 50.0 percent from the field and converting 45.0 percent of his three-point attempts (18-of-40).
His standout performances earned him a spot on the All-CAA Tournament Team after contributing 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game over three games, aiding Charleston in securing the CAA Championship. Notably, he delivered 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists against Alabama before exiting the game with assistance due to injury with 4:07 remaining.
Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, the player spent his initial two collegiate seasons competing in Division II with Nova Southeastern. His contributions were instrumental in the Sharks’ triumph in the D2 championship in 2023 during his sophomore year. Throughout that season, he maintained averages of 13.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.4 steals over 30 games.
Following the conclusion of Louisville’s challenging 2023-24 season, which led to the dismissal of second-year head coach Kenny Payne, significant changes began to unfold within the Cardinals’ roster. Notably, all 12 scholarship players from Louisville have entered the transfer portal, leaving only walk-on guard Aidan McCool set to return.
Fortunately, newly appointed head coach Pat Kelsey has wasted no time in navigating the transfer portal. Since officially assuming the head coaching role on March 28, Kelsey has successfully secured commitments from nine transfers, signaling an active and strategic approach to reshaping the team.
In addition to the trio from Charleston, Terrence Edwards Jr. from James Madison, J’Vonne Hadley from Colorado, Koren Johnson from Washington, Aboubacar Traore from Long Beach State, and Chucky Hepburn from Wisconsin are set to join the team. Aly Khalifa, a center from BYU, has also committed but is expected to redshirt for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Leave a Reply