Pat Kelsey’s commitment to getting bigger in 2026-27 took another (very) sizable step forward Saturday with the commitment of 7’5 USC transfer center Gabe Dynes.

Dynes, a Kentucky native who played his high school basketball at Simon Kenton in Independence, picked U of L over Kentucky.

Before transferring to USC, Dynes spent two seasons at Youngstown State, where he was a Horizon League All-Defensive team selection each year. With the Trojans, Dynes struggled to crack Eric Musselman’s primary rotation, but still averaged a block per game despite playing just 11.1 minutes per contest.

Dynes is limited offensively … but he’s 7’5 and actually moves very well for his size. He can catch the ball and dunk. So there’s that.

With Flory Budunga being a master of defending effectively without fouling, Louisville likely won’t need Dynes to play any larger of a role than the one he did at USC. He also gives Kelsey the opportunity to play him extra minutes against the few teams on U of L’s schedule that will have a 7-foot plus center, the type of player that frustrated Bidunga at times last season.

Balloon Glow weekend recruiting remains undefeated.