Scouting Louisville basketball's 2025-26 roster: Sananda Fru

After leading Louisville basketball to one of the largest turnarounds in Division I history, Pat Kelsey built a 2025-26 roster that's garnering lofty expectations.

This summer, The Courier Journal is taking a player-by-player look at the team, dissecting what each one will bring to the Cardinals.

Up next: Sananda Fru.To catch up on previous entries in the series, click here.Sananda Fru took quite the leap of faith in February, when the 6-foot-11 German committed to Louisville basketball without visiting campus or meeting Pat Kelsey in person.

These days, a decision like that is hardly an anomaly.

Quite the opposite it's one of the sport's hottest trends, plucking a budding young professional with collegiate eligibility out of Europe and hoping his game translates to the Division I ranks.Coaches love it because players like Fru, who will be 22 years old when the 2025-26 season tips off, are battle tested against grown men.

Players like Fru love it because the age gap tilts in their favor, meaning more opportunities for minutes."It's easier to chase your dream," Fru told The Field of 68 after signing with the Cardinals in June.

"Every young kid wants to play in the USA at one point wants to make the NBA.

I feel like the U.S.

gives you the best chance."Fru, who is listed as a junior on U of L's official online roster, did not leave Lowen Braunschweig to merely get his feet wet during Year 2 of the Kelsey era.

No, the 2024-25 recipient of Basketball Bundesliga's Best German Young Player award is diving head first into a team with legitimate Final Four aspirations."Sananda is an impact player for our program from Day 1," Kelsey said in a statement when Fru signed.

"At 6-11, 255 (pounds) with 7-4 wingspan, he is an imposing physical presence with athleticism, skill and basketball IQ.

He impacts winning on both ends of the floor.""The way they're playing I think really suits me," Fru added during his interview with The Field of 68.

"Super aggressive, like to run, like big men who are more on the flex side run the court, can stretch the court, play aggressive defense.

I just think it suits me a lot, and that's a big reason why I chose them." What can we expect from Fru during his first DI season? Here's a breakdown of his 2024-25 campaign in the BBL and what his role could be with the Cards in 2025-26:Scouting report: Recapping Sananda Fru's 2024-25 seasonFru appeared in 34 of Lowen Braunschweig's 37 games (33 starts) during the 2024-25 season his fourth in the BBL and fifth overall with the club.

He finished the campaign as the league's most effective player (17.6), helping lead the Lions to a playoff berth.

Across five postseason contests, he averaged 12.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.

"Sananda's development over the past five years has been tremendous," managing director Nils Mittmann said in a statement when Lowen Braunschweig announced Fru's move to Louisville.

"This applies, firstly, to his steady improvement on the field, becoming one of the most dominant players in the BBL.

Secondly, and especially, his personal development off the field from a teenager to a young man is remarkable he is ready to take responsibility for himself and his environment and that testifies to his maturity."Fru was Lowen Braunschweig's top rebounder and shot blocker in 2024-25 with 6.7 and 1.7 per game, respectively.

He finished third on the team in scoring 12.4 points on 66.5% shooting across 26:22 of run per contest.Most of Fru's points came around the rim.

He converted 148 of his 209 shots from 2-point range for a team-best 70.8% clip.

His athleticism makes him lethal operating out of pick and rolls and a threat to drive when he gets the ball on the perimeter two qualities Kelsey covets in his fast-paced, five-out scheme.

If Fru can offer consistency in those areas, in addition to crashing the glass and being a disruptor defensively, he'll have no problem carving out a role for himself at Louisville.

There's also optimism around Fru progressing as a 3-point shooting threat with the Cards after he went 9 for 27 (33.3%) from beyond the arc during his final season in the BBL.

"He has very good shooting mechanics," Kelsey said in his statement when Fru signed.

"In our system, his confidence in that area will skyrocket."Sananda Fru's 2025-26 outlook with Louisville basketballThere's no shortage of questions surrounding Louisville's frontcourt entering 2025-26.

Will Kasean Pryor be ready for a large role out of the gate after missing most of last season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament? What about Aly Khalifa, who's regarded as one of the best passing big men in the country but hasn't appeared in a game since the end of the 2023-24 campaign? How will Kelsey build a rotation at the 4 and the 5 with those two, J'Vonne Hadley, Khani Rooths and Fru headlining a trio of international signees?The door is open for Fru to make a compelling case for himself as a starter over the next couple of months.

That's what he was paid to do in Germany and it paid off for Lowen Braunschweig in 2024-25.

And, for what it's worth, Kelsey in July said he was "way ahead of the curve" in terms of adjusting to the collegiate game.

"He's a pro," Kelsey said.

"He's a grizzled veteran."Caution: Fru at Work #GoCardspic.twitter.com/cOW80u8EQJ Louisville Men's Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) July 12, 2025Hoop-Explorer.com lists three player projections for the upcoming season: balanced, optimistic and pessimistic.

At his very best, Fru has a projected net rating of 5.9 (in the 93rd percentile), meaning he'd be nearly six points per 100 possessions better than the average DI player.

At his worst, the number drops to 1.9 (in the 70th percentile).

After depth in the post came at a premium for the Cards in 2024-25, Kelsey will no doubt take those numbers every day of the week.

Fru is just one piece of the puzzle in the post for U of L but could very well emerge as the head of the snake; especially as he continues to develop his body with strength coach Eli Foy one of the program's top selling points, per the big man's agent.

If he does in fact make an instant impact and accomplish his goal of reaching the NBA, expect more where he came from on Kelsey's future rosters.

"A 22-year-old freshman is unique to college basketball," the coach said, "but (it's) not going to be unique moving forward." Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at [email protected] and follow him on X at @brooksHolton..oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville basketball roster 2025-26: Sananda Fru scouting report.

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