Will J’Vonne Hadley be available for Louisville basketball against archrival Kentucky on Tuesday at the KFC Yum! Center?

Coach Pat Kelsey wasn’t 100% sure Monday — but said he was “hopeful” that would be the case.

Hadley missed the No. 10 Cardinals’ win over Jackson State on Nov. 6 while in concussion protocol. Afterward, Kelsey said the sixth-year guard got hit in the head during the team’s season-opening rout of South Carolina State on Nov. 3.

“It was like a day later or so; he just wasn’t feeling really well, and they got him checked out and there were some things they were a little concerned about,” the coach added. “We’re just being very cautious with it.

“It’s a long season, and obviously those are things you don’t want to mess with. So we (were) just kind of being careful with him tonight.”

Tipoff between U of L and the Wildcats is set for 8 p.m. Tuesday. The game will air on ESPN.

Hadley was the only member of Kelsey’s inaugural roster to start every game of the 2024-25 season. The 6-foot-7 native of St. Paul, Minnesota, averaged 12.2 points on 51.8% shooting (38.1% from 3) in addition to leading Louisville in rebounding with 7.3 per contest. His 82.3% minute share, per KenPom.com, was second only to Chucky Hepburn‘s (84.1%) for the largest on the team.

Hadley scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds across 22 minutes in the 2025-26 opener against South Carolina State. He also logged two assists and a steal.

In the Cards’ 93-85 loss at Rupp Arena last December, Hadley contributed 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting, six rebounds, an assist and a steal in 38 minutes.

This story will be updated.

Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Will J’Vonne Hadley play for Louisville basketball vs Kentucky?