Trentin FlowersNo. 21 overall in the class of 2024 has moved to the Louisville Cardinals and is being reclassified to the class of 2023 to join next season, he told 247Sports.
The 6ft 8in, 210lb Charlotte (NC) Combine Academy small forward decided to commit Kenny Payneprogram over its finalists: North Carolina, Creighton, Arkansas, Kansas and Alabama.
“Only the coaching staff, they have a great plan for me, the atmosphere and everything they have going on,” Flowers said of why he chose Louisville. “This is the kind of program I can participate in and help recover, get great workouts and be a part of something bigger than me.”
Flowers are the third addition to Louisville’s list, which is in the process of being overhauled. He joins rookies Sky Clark and Dennis Evans, adding versatility at forward and the ability to influence the game in many ways.
“He sees me come in and play defensive end, one to three, so I just play my game and show versatility,” he told him of Payne’s serve. “At the same time, just bringing your competitive and hard-working spirit.”
Flowers received dozens of offers during his hire, but the Louisville assistant formed a close bond with him that paid off at the end of the day.
“Trainer Nolan Smith, that was really my boyfriend,” he said of his relationship with the staff. “He’s been recruiting me since he was at Duke when I was a sophomore. He is probably one of the longest who recruits me in general. It was crazy, he was always there for me, always telling me what I need to work on in my game and he told me what I was doing right. It’s just relationship building beyond just coaching, and once I got to know the CP coach, it was a no-brainer.”
Rumors about Flowers’ decision to retrain have been circulating for some time. Although he initially played his cards close to his vest, he told 247Sports what motivated his decision to join the Cardinals a season ahead of schedule.
“What made me want to retrain is that I’m not chasing anything in high school anymore,” he said. “I don’t chase ratings, McDonald’s or Jordan Brand Games. I just want to take my game to the next level and really develop it. I discussed this many times with the coaching staff and my family and we all felt like I was more than ready and I feel like I can make an instant impact right away.”
What will Flowers bring to the program in his own eyes?
“You will get someone who will do the right thing not only on the court, but also off it,” he replied. “Someone who will wear Louisville on his chest and represent him. As a basketball player, you get a player who can play one to three, and sometimes four if needed. and do it all at a high level. At my height, with the combination of things that I have, you get a very versatile player on the floor.”
Source: 247sports.com
