Sawt Falasteen - Louisville adds LJ Wells for fifth season of eligibility

Louisville added forward LJ Wells to its basketball roster on September 14, giving coach Pat Kelsey another fifth-year player available for the coming season.

Wells spent four seasons at Northern Kentucky. As a senior, he started 33 games and averaged 15 points and 7.3 rebounds. Kelsey said Northern Kentucky coach Darrin Horn, a friend of his, had praised Wells’ character, work ethic and willingness to learn.

Kelsey described Wells as one of Northern Kentucky’s most valuable players and said he would fit Louisville’s team culture.

The 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward earned selection to the Horizon League tournament team after averaging 22.3 points and 8.7 rebounds across three March tournament games. He had started 16 of 32 games as a junior and 27 of 33 as a sophomore, after appearing in 18 games as a freshman.

Louisville also has guard Seth Trimble, who transferred from North Carolina. Trimble benefited from a recent preliminary injunction by a Colorado judge allowing athletes who finished high school in 2022 a fifth season of eligibility for the upcoming year.

Both Wells and Trimble were among athletes who sought permission from a Kentucky county court to play a fifth season.

I.Matar--SF-PST