Jeff Walz, No. 17 Louisville enter season with roster revamped with 6 transfers instead of freshmen

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville is once again assembling a highly-rated recruiting class, which is no surprise for Jeff Walz.

However, what sets this class apart is that only one of the seven newcomers is a freshman. Walz, the longtime Cardinals coach, emphasizes that his decision to heavily utilize the transfer portal was driven by necessity rather than a philosophical shift. With many top high school prospects already committed last fall, Walz worked diligently this spring to secure several experienced players as the departure of All-American guard Hailey Van Lith left a significant void, surprising everyone by joining defending national champion and top-ranked LSU.

Given that transfers played a crucial role in Louisville’s previous Final Four appearance in 2022 and their Elite Eight run last season, replenishing the roster through the transfer portal was the logical choice. The strategy has resulted in a group of seasoned talents.

“Instead of pursuing a player who we believe will be ready to contribute in two years, we decided to wait for the portal and recruit someone who already has college experience,” Walz explained.

“They may not have competed at the Power Five level, but they might have been named mid-major player of the year or received first-team all-league honors. It’s uncertain how many players are currently willing to put in two years of work to secure a spot in the lineup and develop. Everyone wants to play immediately.”

Walz now boasts a combination of Power Five and mid-major players, several of whom have earned the aforementioned accolades. In addition to mitigating the blow of Van Lith’s departure, the No. 17 Cardinals anticipate that this group can lead them to another deep NCAA Tournament run after reaching the Elite Eight last season.

The team has already claimed the GLOBL Jam international competition title in Toronto this summer, with UMass transfer Sydney Taylor sealing the victory through a game-winning 3-pointer.

“It was an unbelievable experience, considering that we had never played together before,” said graduate student guard Nina Rickards, who delivered a career-high 12.1 points per game at Florida last season. “We had a few practices, but we quickly developed chemistry off the court, and that camaraderie truly assists in sacrificing for one another while competing against opponents. I believe we have great team cohesion.”

In the backcourt, Louisville possesses formidable Power Five experience with players such as Rickards, senior Eylia Love from Georgia Tech, and junior Jayda Curry, a two-time Pac-12 all-conference selection from Cal. Additionally, graduate Kiki Jefferson arrived after being named the Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP at James Madison. Taylor was an All-Atlantic 10 Conference first-team selection, and junior forward Hennie van Schaik received All-Big West honorable mention recognition.

Walz acknowledges that team cohesion is a work in progress as the new additions merge with seniors Olivia Cochran and Merissah Russell, as well as sophomores Nyla Harris and Alexia Mobley.

Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks emphasizes that the process is more challenging than people realize.

“The transfer portal doesn’t offer a plug-and-play solution,” he stated during an interview with the ACC Network. “You can bring in a player who averaged 14 points per game elsewhere, but they need to learn your system, understand their new role, and everyone needs to buy into it.”

Harris emphasized that the experienced players must lead the way in helping their new teammates adjust to a higher level of competition and a different team culture.

“We assured them that we will support them and guide them in learning all the plays and defensive strategies,” added the sophomore. “At Louisville, we prioritize defense.”

While LSU utilized seven transfers, including All-American forward Angel Reese, to capture their first national title last season, Walz does not anticipate relying solely on the transfer portal for roster overhauls. The NCAA’s additional year of eligibility granted during the pandemic will soon come to an end, and stricter regulations have been imposed on two-time transfers playing immediately.

A smaller talent pool is expected, leading Walz to believe that the transfer portal should complement his recruitment of freshmen.

“We are always searching for top high school prospects; there’s no doubt about that,” he emphasized. “I view the portal as a means to fill any gaps. So, after securing our freshman class, if we find that we didn’t land a 6’1″ wing, I will turn to the portal to find one.”

With a roster full of potential options, Walz’s objective is to fill the offensive void left by the departures of Van Lith, Chrislyn Carr, Morgan Jones, and Liz Dixon, not to mention longtime defensive specialist Mykasa Robinson, who now serves as a graduate assistant.

The Cardinals’ initial focus will be to generate offense through their defense, and they may need a collective effort to score when they open their season against Cincinnati on Nov. 6th. Cochran, standing at 6’3″, is expected to be a primary contributor and is eager to embrace the responsibility of meshing with more new teammates than usual.

“Change is beneficial,” she remarked. “We are all hungry for success. The newcomers are eager to experience that winning feeling, and I am delighted to be part of that and help them taste the same triumph that I am striving for as well.”

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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball