Louisville basketball 2023 recruiting class: Kenny Payne's haul ranks fifth nationally

Kenny Payne is looking to make a splash on the recruiting trail heading into Year 2 as the Louisville men's basketball head coach.

With six signees secured as of May 22 the Cardinals' 2023 class is ranked fifth on 247 Sports' national leaderboard — 21 spots ahead of where they finished the 2022 recruiting cycle.

Louisville native Kaleb Glenn got the ball rolling for U of L when he committed to former coach Chris Mack in 2021. Nearly a year later, Glenn was joined by Curtis Williams, a four-star small forward from Michigan who announced his pledge to the Cardinals on Sept. 19.

Ty-Laur Johnson, a 6-foot point guard from Newark, New Jersey, is the newest addition. The former Memphis commit announced his pledge to U of L on May 22 and signed his National Letter of Intent four days later.

C.L. Brown: Louisville basketball’s top-5 class strong sign of what's to come under Kenny Payne

Louisville basketball recruiting: Kenny Payne lands 3rd high-profile commitment; Trentyn Flowers picks Cardinals

Keep this page bookmarked over the coming months as Louisville looks to add more talent to its 2023 class.

Koron Davis

Position: Guard

Current school: Los Angeles Southwest (JUCO)

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

Commitment status: Signed April 12

What to know: Junior-college prospect Koron Davis committed to Louisville just nine days after Payne extended a scholarship. The Gary, Indiana, native averaged 23.8 points on 48.1 shooting (33% from 3-point range) to go along with 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 27.8 minutes per game across 25 appearances (21 starts) as a sophomore with Los Angeles Southwest. His best performance of the season came Jan. 11, when he scored 43 points in a double-overtime victory against Mt. San Antonio. A graduate of Bowman Academy, Davis began his JUCO career at Paris Junior College in Texas, where he earned a spot on the All-NJCAA Region XIV second team after averaging a team-best 15.7 points on 46.7% shooting (26.3% from 3). He signed with the Cardinals on April 12.

Payne on Davis: "Koron is a multidimensional talent that can be effective in positions 1-3. He has a knack for scoring at all three levels while also being able to rebound and make plays for teammates at a high level. He possesses length and athleticism suitable for the ACC."

Koron Davis: JUCO guard commit wants to turn doubters into believers with Louisville basketball, Kenny Payne

Dennis Evans III

Position: Center

High school: Hillcrest (Riverside, California)

247Sports Composite rating: 4 stars

Commitment status: Signed April 13

What to know: A former Minnesota signee, Dennis Evans III was granted release from his National Letter of Intent with the Golden Gophers in late February 2023. Louisville pounced on the consensus top-10 talent at center, and a few weeks later he committed to the Cardinals over the likes of TCU, Illinois and Missouri after visiting the 502. Rivals.com reports Evans is the highest-ranked recruit nationally to pledge U of L since Class of 2008 power forward Samardo Samuels. The big man leaves Hillcrest High School holding its career records for blocks (563) and triple-doubles (seven). He ranks second all-time in scoring (1,083 points) and rebounding (794). He signed with the Cardinals on April 13.

Payne on Evans: “We’re blessed to add one of the most unique high school players in the country in Dennis Evans. He’s an elite defensive player with unbelievable skill. It’s going to be a joy to watch him grow and become one of the best players in college basketball. There’s no limit on the potential of how good he can be. He's a tremendous human being that has the character and the discipline that we sorely need in this program."

Dennis Evans: Louisville basketball lands 7-foot center, highest-rated recruit under Kenny Payne: Reports

Trentyn Flowers

Position: Guard/forward

High school: Combine Academy (Charlotte, North Carolina)

247Sports Composite rating: 4 stars

Commitment status: Signed April 12

What to know: The third high-profile commitment for Payne and his staff in less than a week, Flowers on March 17 chose Louisville over Alabama, Arkansas, Creighton, Kansas and North Carolina. Checking in a 6-9 and 210 pounds, Flowers was a consensus top-25 prospect in the Class of 2024 but reclassified to the 2023 class. Speaking with On3.com, Flowers described himself as a player who shows "flashes of handles to attack closeouts and operate in pick-and-roll situations." His touch and athleticism, he said, "creates headaches for people." His coach at Combine Academy, Mike Wright, told Sports Illustrated in September he thinks Flowers "is the best offensive player in the class of 2024." He inked his National Letter of Intent on April 12.

Payne on Flowers: "Trentyn is one of the most talented young players — regardless of class — in the country. He's a 6-8 guard who can score, rebound, pass and defend, and he's an elite athlete with a very good basketball IQ. He has a bright future in his game and has the discipline and work ethic to be a great basketball player. He's as excited as we are for him to be a part of this basketball program."

Trentyn Flowers: Why high-profile recruit says reclassifying and picking Louisville basketball was 'no-brainer'

Kaleb Glenn

Position: Small forward

High school: La Lumiere (La Porte, Indiana)

247Sports Composite rating: 4 stars

Commitment status: Signed Nov. 11

What to know: The first commitment in Louisville's 2023 class, Kaleb Glenn pledged to Mack and the Cardinals on Sept. 24, 2021. Since Payne has taken over the reins, Glenn said the new coach has reaffirmed his commitment by fostering a familial relationship during their interactions. A Louisville native and former Male High School star, Glenn chose U of L over offers from Indiana, Cincinnati and seven other Power 5 programs. The 6-6, 200-pound small forward is transferring to La Lumiere, a college prep boarding and day school in La Porte, Indiana, for his senior year. He's the 14th best player at his position in the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

Payne on Glenn: "Kaleb is not just a really good player, but a high-character person who can play multiple positions, loves the game and plays it with a passion. It will be a joy to coach him and have him be a part of the beginning stages of the culture we want to build. He brings versatility, is an excellent rebounder for a wing and an elite defender, and can play the 2, 3 or 4. He understands the tradition of our program being from Louisville, and it's great to keep one of our own at home."

'We're family': How Kenny Payne reaffirmed Kaleb Glenn's commitment to U of L basketball

Ty-Laur Johnson

Position: Point guard

High school: Overtime Elite (Atlanta)

247Sports Composite rating: 4 stars

Commitment status: Signed May 26

What to know: Johnson signed with Louisville on May 26, just 32 days after backing off his pledge from Memphis, and is in line to take the Cardinals' 13th and final scholarship roster spot. The Newark, New Jersey, native ranks among the top 20 point guards in the 2023 class on four different recruiting databases and spent his senior season playing for Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.) in Overtime Elite, an Atlanta-based professional league that allows top emerging talent to maintain college eligibility. Across 13 games with the Falcons in OTE, Johnson averaged 18.4 points on 36.6% shooting (26.6% from 3-point range) with 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per contest. His best performance came on Jan. 24, when he scored 31 points to go along with seven assists, nine rebounds and five steals in a one-point loss to the Holy Rams.

Payne on Johnson: "I'm excited to complete our last roster spot with Ty-Laur Johnson, a very good player who has the grit and resolve to reach his potential. He's a very high-character young man who plays the game to win. Louisville fans will love his fight and determination. Welcome aboard, Ty."

Ty-Laur Johnson: Former Memphis PG commit, pledges to Kenny Payne and Louisville basketball

Curtis Williams Jr.

Position: Small forward

High school: Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan)

247Sports Composite rating: 4 stars

Commitment status: Signed Nov. 11

What to know: The top recruit in the state of Michigan, Curtis Williams Jr. was the first 2023 prospect to commit to Payne since his hiring in March. The 6-6, 205-pound wing celebrated his mother's birthday by announcing his pledge to Louisville on Sept. 19. The Cardinals weren't on Williams radar when he narrowed his list of contenders to six in May, but he landed a scholarship offer after several standout performances on Nike's EYBL circuit in July and eventually chose U of L over Alabama, Florida State, Providence and Xavier. As a junior at Brother Rice, Williams averaged 16.8 points on 39% shooting from 3-point range and pulled down an average of 7.7 rebounds per game.

Payne on Williams: "We’re blessed to have a kid who brings a winning culture with him like Curtis. He will walk into our program understanding what winning takes. He’s a versatile guard wing who can play the 1, 2 or the 3, and an excellent defender. He brings a toughness and a fight to the game that we need. He’s an elite shooter, but as a player he’s more than that. He will bring a great spirit to our program that will be solely about team, work ethic and character. Louisville fans will love him."

Curtis Williams Jr.: How 2023 commit fits into Kenny Payne's Louisville basketball vision

Reach recruiting and trending sports reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville basketball 2023 recruiting class: Who Kenny Payne's landed