Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
By JACOB POLACHECK Gabe Wiznitzer, the 6-foot-11, 240-pound power forward from Hargrave (VA) Military Academy who announced his commitment to Louisville on June 23, has officially signed with the Cardinals.
Wiznitzer chose Louisville over schools such as Ohio State, Iowa, Xavier, Iona, Virginia Tech, Providence and Cincinnati, among others. He will redshirt this coming season.
“We are excited to welcome Gabe into the Cardinal family,” said Louisville coach Chris Mack. “We’ve been looking to add a big man to our front court for some time. Gabe presents really good size, good skill and a tremendous work ethic. Spending last year at Hargrave was a bonus in his development. Our intention is to redshirt Gabe to aid in that development. During this coming season, Gabe will train, practice and travel throughout the entire season.”
Wiznitzer averaged 14.2 points and 10.1 rebounds a game, while shooting 42 percent from three-point range, last season as a junior on the postgraduate team for Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va.. Hargrave achieved a 37-4 record and reached the semifinals of the national prep championship.
Wiznitzer was originally slated for next year’s recruiting class but reclassified to enter college in 2020-21. He has been Ranked No. 115 in the nation by Rivals.com and No. 132 by 247Sports.com. His 16 rebounds led the 2019 National Prep Showcase on the first day of the event, adding 15 points and two blocked shots in an 89-72 Hargrave victory.
“Gabe has tremendous upside,” Hargrave Military Academy head coach Lee Martin said. “His ability to shoot and pass at a high level gives him an edge at his position. The ability to run your offense through Gabe is a huge asset.”
Before transferring to Hargrave, Wiznitzer averaged 13.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while connecting on 34.6 percent of his three-point attempts as a sophomore at The Christ School in Arden, N.C., where he played three seasons. Christ School posted a 16-14 record and finished as the runner-up in the state 2019 NCISAA 4A Championship in his final year there.
Wiznitzer will be the fourth product of Hargrave to play for the Cardinals, joining Montrezl Harrell (2012-15 at Louisville), Terry Rozier (2013-15) and Anton Gill (2013-15).
Wiznitzer is the fifth new addition to the Cardinals’ roster for next season. Two graduate transfers chose to attend UofL in April in Carlik Jones, a 6-1, 180-pound guard from Cincinnati, Ohio, who was a three-year starter at Radford University and earned All-America honors as a junior last season; and Charles Minlend, Jr., a 6-4, 208-pound guard from Concord, N.C., who was a three-year starter at the University of San Francisco and scored 1,271 career points there. UofL signed two outstanding high school players last November in D’Andre Davis, a 6-5, 170-pound guard/forward from Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, Ind.; and JJ Traynor, a 6-8, 190-pound forward from Bardstown (Ky.) High School.
Louisville also has three 2021 commitments in power forward Bryce Hopkins, point guard Bobby Pettiford and JUCO guard El Ellis.
