Louisville, Kentucky – Another athlete is set to join the Louisville men’s basketball team under the leadership of their new head coach, Pat Kelsey. Kobe Rodgers, a point guard who played alongside Kelsey at Charleston last season, has decided to commit to the Cardinals, as reported by Jeff Goodman from The Field of 68. He plans to sit out the upcoming 2024-25 season, likely to recover from a left leg injury sustained during Charleston’s NCAA Tournament game against Alabama. Rodgers becomes the third player to make the move from Charleston to Louisville following Kelsey’s appointment.
Joining guard Reyne Smith and center James Scott, who were the first to transfer after Kelsey’s arrival in late March. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 180 pounds, Rodgers was a key contributor off the bench in Charleston’s backcourt last season, making 18 starts out of 31 games played. He posted averages of 9.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and led the team with 1.2 steals per game. Rodgers also showcased solid shooting, hitting 50.0 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from beyond the arc. His performance earned him a spot on the All-CAA Tournament Team after helping Charleston secure the CAA Championship.
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Rodgers began his college career at the Division II level with Nova Southeastern before transferring to Charleston. Additionally, following a disappointing 2023-24 season that led to the dismissal of head coach Kenny Payne, Louisville witnessed a significant roster overhaul, with all 12 scholarship players entering the transfer portal except for walk-on guard Aidan McCool. However, under Kelsey’s guidance, Louisville is swiftly rebuilding its roster through the transfer market, securing commitments from a total of nine transfers, including Rodgers, Terrence Edwards Jr. from James Madison, J’Vonne Hadley from Colorado, Koren Johnson from Washington, Aboubacar Traore from Long Beach State, Chucky Hepburn from Wisconsin, and Aly Khalifa from BYU, who will redshirt the upcoming season.
