We continue our recruit and return series with the Louisville Cardinals, whose season ended Sunday with a loss to Michigan in the round of 32. Here's a look at what the 2017-18 season could hold:
Possible 2017-18 starting five
F: V.J. King
F: Deng Adel
Who is lost: Coach Rick Pitino will lose starting center Mangok Mathiang, who never developed into a star but was a consistent presence inside for most of his four seasons with the Cardinals. He averaged seven points and six rebounds in his last two seasons. Guard Tony Hicks, former Penn grad transfer, provided depth during his lone season at Louisville. The big question surrounds Donovan Mitchell. The athletic guard had a breakout campaign as a sophomore and was outstanding during ACC play. His stock is at its highest, so there’s a chance he leaves for the NBA if he can get drafted in the first round.
Who is added: A top-10 recruiting class. Three ESPN 100 prospects are included in the four-man class, led by Malik Williams -- who improved as much as any frontcourt prospect in the 2017 class over the course of his junior and senior seasons. He’s a versatile forward who can run the floor, score at the rim and block shots. He also has nice touch on his shot. Georgia guard Darius Perry provides insurance in case Mitchell goes pro, and he can play on or off the ball. Forward Jordan Nwora is one of the best shooters in the class and will be a useful weapon for Pitino at 6-foot-8. Then there’s Lance Thomas, an athletic forward with a high ceiling.
What it means for next season: Pitino could have one of the best teams in the country if everyone, primarily Donovan Mitchell, returns. Quentin Snider took major strides as a junior and became one of the more solid point guards in the league. As a senior, he should be even better. Deng Adel became a double-figure scorer as a sophomore, while classmate Ray Spalding could be a more productive weapon at forward next season. V.J. King is something of an X factor, as he showed potential in spurts but also disappeared and had limited minutes for stretches. Starting power forward Jaylen Johnson will also be back, as will intriguing big man Anas Mahmoud.
Trending: Level. There is a lot of young talent on this roster, and it will have a senior point guard in Quentin Snider leading the way. Moreover, if Spalding or King takes the next step, Pitino will have plenty of options. It all comes down to Mitchell’s decision.