U of L men's basketball lands two top transfers

Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad commit to Louisville, providing a major boost to the Cardinals' roster.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:44am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a college basketball game, with sharp planes of color representing the players and action on the court.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes transfer portal battle that landed Louisville two of the top recruits in the country.Kansas City Today

The University of Louisville men's basketball team has landed two top transfer portal recruits in Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad. Bidunga, a 6'10" forward from Kansas, was the highest-ranked transfer portal recruit according to On3 and 247 Sports. Shelstad, a 6' point guard from Oregon, was the 16th-ranked transfer. These two standout transfers will look to replace much of the departing production from the previous season as Louisville faces slim returning production amid graduations, transfers, and the NBA draft departure of star point guard Mikel Brown Jr.

Why it matters

These two high-profile transfer commitments provide a major boost to the Louisville Cardinals' men's basketball program, which was facing significant roster turnover. Bidunga and Shelstad are expected to step in and contribute immediately, helping to solidify the team's frontcourt and backcourt respectively.

The details

Flory Bidunga, a 6'10" forward, averaged 13.3 points and 9 rebounds per game starting for Kansas last season. He will provide an important paint presence for Louisville. Jackson Shelstad, a 6' point guard from Oregon, averaged 13.7 points per game on nearly 38% shooting from 3-point range in his last full season before being sidelined by injury in 2025-26. He will look to replace the production of departed star Mikel Brown Jr.

  • Bidunga and Shelstad committed to Louisville on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
  • Bidunga was the highest-ranked transfer portal recruit according to rankings from On3 and 247 Sports entering the 2026-27 season.

The players

Flory Bidunga

A 6'10" forward who was the highest-ranked transfer portal recruit according to On3 and 247 Sports, Bidunga averaged 13.3 points and 9 rebounds per game starting for Kansas last season.

Jackson Shelstad

A 6' point guard from Oregon, Shelstad was the 16th-ranked transfer portal recruit according to 247 Sports. He averaged 13.7 points per game on nearly 38% shooting from 3-point range in his last full season before being sidelined by injury in 2025-26.

Mikel Brown Jr.

The star point guard for Louisville, Brown Jr. declared for the NBA draft, leaving a void in the Cardinals' backcourt that Shelstad will look to fill.

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What they’re saying

“These two standout transfers will look to replace much of the departing production from the previous season.”

— Vinny Porco, Author

What’s next

With the additions of Bidunga and Shelstad, Louisville will look to build a roster around them and returning wing Adrian Wooley, aiming to surround the new transfers with contributing role players.

The takeaway

Louisville has landed a major recruiting coup by securing commitments from two of the top transfers in the portal, Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad. These two high-profile additions should provide an immediate boost to the Cardinals' roster as they look to replace significant departures and compete at a high level in the upcoming season.