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Rick Pitino on Ray Spalding: ‘More potential’ than any Louisville player he’s had

Rick Pitino, David Levitch

AP

AP

Rick Pitino has posted an update on his blog following his team’s trip to Puerto Rico last week.

It’s mostly an update on what he’s doing with the Puerto Rican National Team he is helping to coach, but he added a couple notes on scouting reports for his Louisville players. Pitino had high praise for Drexel transfer Damion Lee -- he should, Lee was terrific in Puerto Rico -- but he says the rest of his roster still needs to improve.

There were two notes that I found interesting:


  • Pitino said freshman forward Ray Spalding has more potential that anyone he’s coached at Louisville, saying that his outgoing off-the-floor personality hasn’t translated onto the floor, where he’s not as aggressive or as confident as he needs to be. “I’ve not seen anyone in my 15 years at Louisville with more potential,” Pitino wrote. “Needs time, but when he gets it, look out!” I was far more intrigued by Louisville’s other two freshmen, Donovan Mitchell and Deng Adel, which seems to be a positive sign for this Louisville class.
  • The other interesting note is what Pitino wrote about Quentin Snider. “Had his ups and downs but will be ready! Don’t need to say anymore.” That’s it. Snider had some moments down the stretch of the season, but overall, he didn’t seem ready to handle running the point full-time. It doesn’t sound like he got there over the summer, either.

Pitino also added that he has awarded Louisville’s 13th scholarship to walk-on David Levitch, who has played meaningful minutes for the Cardinals in the past.