Aidan Igiehon picks Louisville Cardinals

Aidan Igiehon has made his decision.

On Friday, the four-star center announced his commitment to the Louisville Cardinals. The Kentucky Wildcats were among his finalists, but Igiehon didn’t have a committable offer from John Calipari.

Igiehon has been one of the more intriguing recruits to follow in this class because of his journey to American basketball. The 6-10 center traveled all the way from his home country of Ireland before arriving in the United States at the age of 13 years old.

As you may expect, it was not the easiest of transitions for a teenager to be that far from the only place had ever known to be home. Igiehon discussed that struggle with Jon Hale of the Courier-Journal in a July interview.

“When you’re 13 years old, you see bright lights of the United States and you want to go there,” Igiehon said. “Then when I’m here, I’m like, ‘Man, I miss my mom.’ I’m still a huge mama’s boy, there’s some workouts I cry, I don’t want to do it. I’m a kid. It made me have to be a man quick. It’s a hard process and nobody really understands that, but just try being a 13-year-old kid across the world from your mom.” Igiehon told the Courier Journal.

The home sickness was not the only challenge for Igiehon, as the speed and intensity of the basketball in America also new for him.

Over time, Igiehon, settled in at Lawrence Woodmere Academy in Woodmere, New York. Despite his transition woes he has become a five-star recruit with many of the top programs in America chasing after him, though he has since fallen to four-star status. Rivals ranks him 50th overall, while 247 Sports has him at 51st.

Igiehon is powerful dunker that can really throw is down with two hands around the rim. He has great speed and can run the floor in transition at an elite level. Igiehon played for the New York lightning on the EYBL circuit where his stock began to rise this summer. Accordingly to those who have seen him play, one of his best attributes is that he can catch the ball in traffic.

If Idiehon continues to develop at this rate, he could end up being one of the best big men in a class that is full of great frontcourt players.

Kentucky will get to see him on an annual basis starting in 2019.

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