LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Yet another former member of the Louisville men’s basketball program has found their new transfer home. Forward J.J. Traynor announced Monday that he has committed to DePaul.
Traynor is the fourth former Cardinal to find his new transfer home. Guard Skyy Clark is heading back home to UCLA, forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield opted to stay in the ACC and go to NC State, and Tre White is going to the Big Ten to play for Illinois.
Traynor was one of eleven Louisville players to enter the transfer portal following the dismissal of second-year head coach Kenny Payne back on Mar. 13. Because of the heavy influx of portal defections, Louisville has zero scholarship returners for the 2024-25 season.
The 6-foot-8, 190-pound forward played in each of Louisville’s first eight games of the season with three starts, averaging 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field.
However, Traynor suffered a shoulder injury against DePaul back on Dec. 9, one that eventually would rule him out for the rest of the season. While he has exhausted his eligibility, he has the option to try and pursue a medical waiver for the 2024-25 season.
Ahead of Louisville’s regular season finale against Boston College, where Traynor participated in the Cardinals’ pre-game Senior Day ceremony, he stated that he had not decided if he wanted to try and play another season.
“I most likely will apply for the medical waiver, I’m not decided yet,” he said. “I’m just taking this time to worry about my rehab. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll make a decision.”
The Bardstown (Ky.) HS product joined the program as part of their Class of 2020, and had a minimal role on the team over his first two seasons in college. Traynor took a big step forward for his junior season, averaging 6.9 points and 3.8 rebounds over 32 games and 15 starts. He was one of just four Cardinals to return from last season’s squad after UofL went just 4-28.
Over 70 career games played and 19 starts, Traynor has logged 396 points, 212 rebounds, 32 blocks and 23 assists while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 34.3 percent on three-point attempts.
With Louisville in line to return just walk-on guard Hercy Miller from last season, new head coach Pat Kelsey and his staff have hit the ground running out on the recruiting trail since his hiring on Mar. 28. The Cardinals have landed transfer commitments from Reyne Smith and James Scott – both of whom played for Kelsey at Charleston – as well as former James Madison star and 2024 Sun Belt Player of the Year Terrence Edwards Jr.
