Louisville Cardinals sign Senegalese forward Mouhamed Camara

• Leonard Solms Close Jack of all sporting trades. Author of my 11-year-old self’s fantasy story about his roadway to FIFA World Cup splendor. Refining the art of writing about individuals who do what I stated I was going to do.May 21,

2025, 05:16 AM ET

KIGALI, Rwanda– Louisville Cardinals have signed Senegalese power forward Mouhamed Camara, currently playing in the Basketball Africa League, ahead of the 2025/26 NCAA basketball season.Camara, who is playing for South African side Made By Ball(MBB )in the continental tournament presently in Kigali, informed ESPN that he chose the Cardinals ahead of other deals due to the fact that of his admiration for coach Pat Kelsey.The 6-foot-8 stated that Kelsey’s winning mindset persuaded him to

dedicate to the Cardinals regardless of having checked out UCF in March.” The coach( Kelsey )is great- the coach is a winner-and it’s an excellent program, so me going there is an excellent opportunity,” the 20-year-old informed ESPN in the blended zone after MBB beat Nairobi City Thunder on Tuesday.Camara attended SEED Academy in Senegal before shining at the 2023 Basketball Without Borders (BWB)Africa camp in Johannesburg and declaring the Defensive MVP award. Off the back of that, he began playing for the NBA Academy Africa in Saly-also in his home nation. “Basketball Without Borders changed whatever, because I went there and I was the Defensive

MVP … It was difficult, however I made it [to Louisville],”Camara told ESPN.He has actually brought in interest for his solid efficiencies for the academy, which enables its finest skills to participate in the BAL along with experts through the BAL Raise Program. New Louisville Cardinals finalizing Mouhamed Camara is in action for South African group MBB at this year’s Basketball Africa League. Julien Bacot/NBAE by means of Getty Images Camara has actually had restricted game time in the last 2 seasons, but has actually made his minutes count and also shone in the NBA Academy’s games-drawing interest from colleges and leaving him with a choice to make.Ultimately, he was swayed by the existence of Kelsey -a four-time Big South regular season winner as coach of Winthrop and three-time competition champ. After 9 years at Winthrop, he had three at Charleston before taking the Louisville head coaching job in 2024. From a young age, Camara has possessed a natural eye for the defensive side of the game. Nevertheless, he credited the NBA Academy Africa under technical director Roland Houston for enhancing his offending skills.He said:”[ At the NBA Academy]

, I enhanced [my understanding of] how to play a lot -how to shoot the ball, how to pass-details. When you’re at the academy, they teach you how to do things the proper way.”The 20-year-old’s instant focus is to get approved for the playoffs of the BAL with MBB, who are coached by 1986 NBA champion Sam Vincent.He missed out in 2015, having actually at first played for Burundi Eager beaver BBC until they effectively forfeited their position through their rejection to wear the”

Check out Rwanda”logo amid diplomatic stress between Rwanda and Burundi.Camara was then moved to Rwanda’s Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR ), where he replaced Ulrich Chomche-who flew early to the US ahead of the NBA Draft, where he was ultimately picked by the Toronto Raptors. However, APR were gotten rid of in the Sahara Conference.MBB lost 103-81 to Camara’s previous side on Sunday and will play them next on Thursday.