LJ Wells collected 81 offensive rebounds and attempted 209 free throws last season at Northern Kentucky. Louisville is adding a forward who found ways to extend possessions and draw fouls. I'd like to see how much of that work he can do beside Flory Bidunga.
Louisville announced Wells' addition Monday, bringing the 6-foot-8 forward into Pat Kelsey's program after four seasons at Northern Kentucky. Bidunga arrived from Kansas in June.
I'd begin with the rebounding totals in Northern Kentucky's official statistics. They describe a contribution Louisville can ask him to make without designing the first shot for him. A new teammate can take that shot. Wells can still affect how the possession ends.
A job beside Bidunga
Bidunga averaged 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 2025-26 and won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award. In Louisville's signing announcement, Kelsey emphasized his protection of the rim and ability to finish lobs.
That gives Wells a possible partner with a demanding defensive job. When Bidunga leaves his man to challenge a shot, another Louisville player must account for the man he left. Wells' rebounding record gives Kelsey a reason to test him in that work. Can he make contact with that player before the ball comes off the rim, then turn and collect it?
On offense, two players pursuing the same miss can also get in each other's way. I'd want their assignments clear. If Bidunga is already near the rim after a roll, Wells has to judge whether his route to the rebound is open and whether Louisville has enough players behind the ball. Sending everyone forward would leave a missed shot with an expensive consequence at the other end.
Wells brings experience making decisions inside a team offense. He started all 33 of his games last season, averaged 15.0 points and recorded 68 assists. Those figures describe a player who had meaningful responsibility at NKU. His new teammates and ACC opponents will change the decisions in front of him.
The shooting needs an honest number
There is a reason to be careful about calling Wells a floor-spacing addition. NKU's season table credits him with 15 makes on 53 three-point attempts, or 28.3 percent. Louisville's announcement gives 38.3 percent. The underlying makes and attempts support the lower figure.
That changes the proposed fit. A defender might be willing to leave Wells outside and help toward Bidunga. Louisville would then need Wells to punish that choice, whether by making the shot, moving into an available passing lane or keeping the ball moving to a better shooter. Each answer asks something different of him.
In my Kentucky piece on Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno, the shooting record gave the defense a strong reason to stay attached to the perimeter player. Wells arrives with a different record. Giving him the same description would skip the most important part of the comparison.
He did get to the free-throw line 209 times last season. That adds another reason to consider him beyond his three-point percentage. It also comes with a limit. He made 141 of those attempts, or 67.5 percent. Getting fouled can create useful offense, and Louisville would welcome a better return on those trips.
Kelsey already has several frontcourt options at Louisville. Wells has to earn a place among them. I like an addition whose case includes offensive rebounds and repeated trips to the line. Give him a chance to help Bidunga finish defensive possessions, then find out which combinations leave enough room for both at the other end.
