Louisville has landed two of the most coveted players in the transfer portal as Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad both announced their commitment to the Cardinals on Sunday.
Bidunga committed to Louisville after a stellar sophomore season with Kansas, averaging 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. Shelstad made his mark at Oregon last season as well, averaging 15.6 points and 4.9 assists per game before suffering a hand injury.
Louisville Turns Heads With Flory Bidunga, Jackson Shelstad Commitments
The Bidunga and Shelstad news set the college basketball world ablaze.
Jeff Goodman of “The Field of 68” called the signings of Bidunga and Shelstad “huge pickups for Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals.”
Louisville has landed Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad, source told @TheFieldOf68.
Two of the best players in the portal.
Huge pickups for Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 12, 2026
Goodman shared further insight into the signings, giving a lowdown on what to expect from Bidunga, particularly on the defensive end.
Last season, Bidunga was named the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Naismith Men’s College Defensive Player of the Year award.
Louisville is armed with a huge budget for players, and the Cards went out and landed two veterans.
Pat Kelsey was lacking a shot-blocker and defensive presence up front this past season.
He addressed that with Flory, but still a ton of money to pay for a guy who can’t… https://t.co/6AdIVJ52lB
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 12, 2026
“Louisville is armed with a huge budget for players, and the Cards went out and landed two veterans,” he wrote. “Pat Kelsey was lacking a shot-blocker and defensive presence up front this past season. He addressed that with Flory, but still a ton of money to pay for a guy who can’t consistently score in the post besides catching lobs.”
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello praised the moves for Louisville: “HUGE day for Pat Kelsey. Bidunga is the best big in the portal and Shelstad is one of the premier point guards. Incredible way to jumpstart the Cardinals’ reloading effort.”
HUGE day for Pat Kelsey. Bidunga is the best big in the portal and Shelstad is one of the premier point guards. Incredible way to jumpstart the Cardinals’ reloading effort. https://t.co/JVQO2PqtEv
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 12, 2026
ESPN Louisville’s Mark Blankenbaker shared his delight at the Cardinals landing Bidunga and Shelstad: “Massive!!!!!!”
MORE: College Basketball 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker: Complete List of Players Who Are Available
College basketball podcaster Ryan Hammer predicted Bidunga and Shelstad will form an “elite” duo at Louisville.
“LOUISVILLE WHAT A DAY. Flory AND Shelstad commit together. Assuming Flory doesn’t stay in draft that’s an elite 2 man duo & I LOVED that the Cards brought them on visit together,” he wrote on X. “Louisville has been portal team B2B years & will be again but this is a different beast.”
Louisville finished sixth in the ACC this season with a 24-11 overall record. The Cardinals lost to Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
