Breaking: Pat Kelsey Announce Return of Former Top Star from Overseas as Bench Reinforcement Ahead of Preseason…

After leading Louisville basketball to one of the largest turnarounds in Division I history, Pat Kelsey built a 2025-26 roster that’s garnering lofty expectations. This summer, The Courier Journal is taking a player-by-player look at the team, dissecting what each one will bring to the Cardinals. Up next: Adrian Wooley.

Having authored one of the best 2024-25 seasons by a Division I freshman, the 6-foot-4 guard from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, made the jump from Kennesaw State basketball to Louisville as Pat Kelsey’s first 2025 addition via the NCAA transfer portal.

He is a two-way player who can guard multiple positions,” Kelsey said in a statement when Wooley signed with the Cardinals in April. “He is a dynamic scorer and playmaker with a high basketball IQ. As we did our background on him it was apparent that his approach, character and professionalism matches his talent.

Landing Wooley, the reigning Conference USA Freshman of the Year, was no small feat for U of L. Other top contenders for his pledge reportedly included Alabama, Auburn and Kansas — three programs that have more Final Four appearances than the Cards have NCAA Tournament wins dating back to 2018.

I came to Louisville because I just love the culture, the environment, the desire and the connections that can be built out here, as well,” Wooley said in a video the team posted to X, formerly Twitter, in early July. “… Card Nation, I’m coming to give you everything that I’ve got. I’m willing to put my life on the line for this team and get wins and win a national championship.”

Wooley might only have one crack at making good on that promise. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie tabbed him as a second-round pick (42nd overall — one spot ahead of fellow Louisville transfer guard Ryan Conwell) in his first mock 2026 NBA Draft.

Will Wooley continue his meteoric rise in the 502? Here’s a breakdown of his freshman season and what his role could be in Year 2 of the Kelsey era:

When Wooley was named CUSA’s top freshman on March 10, Kennesaw State reported he was one of two first-year players across the country to lead their respective teams in scoring and field-goal percentage. The other? Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

That’s pretty good company — and should silence any doubt about whether his game will translate from the mid-major ranks to the ACC.

Wooley started all but one of the Owls’ 33 games and had 15 outings of 20-plus points. Averaging 33.6 minutes per contest, he led the team in scoring (18.8), field-goal percentage (51.2%) and assists (3.6) with 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals to boot. Seventy-three of his 208 makes came on 173 attempts from beyond the arc, good for a 42.2% clip; and he converted 60.4% of his chances at the rim.

Kennesaw State finished the 2024-25 season with a 19-14 record. Per KenPom com, the Owls went 8-2 in games that saw Wooley produce performances worthy of the website’s Most Valuable Player designation. He became the first CUSA freshman since the conference was founded in 1995 to average more than 17 points per game while shooting better than 50% from the field.