Louisville has officially added L.J. Wells to its 2026-27 roster, giving Pat Kelsey a fifth-year forward with a strong Northern Kentucky track record and a reputation that clearly caught the Cardinals’ attention.
Kelsey didn’t hide how much he likes the fit.
“Northern Kentucky coach Darrin Horn and I are friends and I have an unbelievable amount of respect for him as a coach,” said Kelsey on the addition. “He gushes about LJ in terms of his character, work ethic, coachability and team first mentality.
He also speaks glowingly of him as a player, especially his ability to process complex basketball concepts on both sides of the ball. He was arguably NKU’s best and most valuable player.
We are excited to add someone like LJ that fits our culture perfectly. He’s one of us before he even arrives.”
Wells, whose full name is Lavavium Wells, spent four seasons at Northern Kentucky and comes to Louisville after a senior year that showed exactly why he drew that kind of praise. He started 33 games and averaged 15.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 55.4% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point range.
He was a steady scoring threat all season, finishing in double figures 28 times and topping 20 points on six occasions. Wells also posted five double-doubles and had seven games with multiple blocks. His play in the Horizon League tournament stood out as well, earning him a spot on the All-Tournament Team after he put up 22.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks over three games.
At 6-8 and 220 pounds, Wells gives Louisville a forward with size and a long enough résumé to show he can contribute in different roles. As a junior, he started 16 of 32 games and averaged 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 47.9% from the floor. That season included two double-doubles, one with 19 points and 13 rebounds against Robert Morris and another with 17 points and 13 rebounds at PFW.
His sophomore year was another step forward. Wells started 27 of 33 games, logged 25.8 minutes per contest and averaged 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
He shot 47.1% overall and 40% from beyond the arc during the 2023-24 season. As a freshman, he appeared in 18 games and averaged 1.9 points and 2.1 rebounds.
Before college, Wells played at Eau Claire Memorial High School in Eau Claire, Wis. During his senior season there, he averaged 15.8 points per game while shooting 51% from the field. He also posted 9.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game.
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For Louisville, the interest is obvious because the opponent brings a style that can expose discipline, depth and defensive organization in a hurry. It is the kind of home test that can either validate the opening stretch or reveal how much remains to be cleaned up, and with the weeks preview board loaded with other notable games, this one still stands out as a chance for the Cardinals to make an early statement on their own field. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Brohm Faces A Louisville Question He Needs To Answer Saturday
Saturdays matchup with No. 16 SMU brings more than just another conference test to Louisville. It also puts Jeff Brohm back in front of a program that has given him trouble before, and the setting only sharpens the edge. The Cardinals get the Mustangs at home, with a chance to make a statement in a game that already carries plenty of weight for a coach whose best teams have often been judged by how they handled ranked opponents.
Brohms track record against Top 25 teams has been a mixed one across his stops at Louisville, Purdue and Western Kentucky, with some notable wins mixed in with frustrating setbacks. That history is part of what makes this week feel bigger than a single matchup, because it is not just about one Saturday in the schedule. It is about whether Louisville can finally change the feel of a series and, in the process, answer a question that has followed Brohm whenever an elite opponent is on the other sideline. [Read more 🡒]