Pat Kelsey confirms the former G-League will not play

Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball will advance like never before NBA G League guard London Johnson this seasonas head coach Pat Kelsey confirmed Tuesday night that the program has returned to its original redshirt plan.

The clarification follows a confusing series of events surrounding Johnson’s availability, which emerged just days earlier when Louisville announced the 6-foot-3 guard would be “dressed and available” against Boston College. Despite that announcement, Johnson did not see the floor against the Eagles or later in Louisville’s 79-70 loss to No. 16 Virginia, prompting questions about his status.

Speaking after the Virginia loss, Kelsey admitted the wrong steps in the situation was announced publicly and took responsibility for the confusion.

“I had those initial conversations with London, like I said I take responsibility, like how it was handled when the statement came out,” Kelsey said, via 35KISports . “The fact is, when we sat down with him initially, we had really good conversations and I think London thought, hey, this could be a good thing.”

Johnson, who spent the last three seasons in the G League and arrived on campus in mid-Decemberhe was originally expected to redshirt the year to adjust to the college game. However, Louisville’s recent lack of depth, particularly at point guard, has fueled internal discussions about possibly activating him midseason.

Kelsey explained that those conversations involved Johnson’s national team and family, but emphasized how demanding the situation has become for a player who is jumping levels halfway through the year.

“Talk to his human agent, talk to his agent. It looked like he was moving in the right direction,” Kelsey said. “I think what we all have to remember, too, is that there’s a lot to ask of that young man. There’s a lot that goes into it. He’s only got two years of eligibility. We’re already halfway through the season. He’s got a lot of ground to make up before he can really go out there and be a productive player for us.”

As Louisville prepared for the Boston College game, Johnson began to progress toward a potential game, but the reality of eligibility and long-term development ultimately drove the final decision.

“I think as we were building it in, and he started getting ready for the Boston College game … And, I get it 100%, too. There’s, there’s, a lot of implications that seem to go with a decision like that with only two years of eligibility,” Kelsey added.

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

London Johnson will redshirt again. After Louisville’s loss to Virginia, Pat Kelsey confirmed that after discussions with London, his agent and his family, the decision was made to keep him this season. Kelsey said London had a change of heart… pic.tvitter.com/FikecBrIMj

— 35KISports (@35KISportsMedia) January 14, 2026

Johnson, 21, has two seasons remaining after appearing in 21 G League games this year. Louisville will now prioritize getting him fully acclimated for next season, betting that patience will better position both the player and the program.