The college basketball freshman star is a top-100 recruit

A COLLEGE basketball head coach reacted to a star player who did not want to play due to unusual circumstances.

Louisville basketball coach Kenny Payne shared why point guard Ty-Laur Johnson barely played during the first half of the team’s 73-68 win against Bellarmine on Wednesday night.

Louisville’s star point guard Ty-Laur Johnson hardly played in the first half of the team’s 73-68 victory over Bellarmine due to an unusual reasonCredit: Getty

Louisville’s head coach Kenny Payne told reporters that Johnson was on the sideline because “we didn’t have the tights he wanted”Credit: Getty

Johnson, a top-100 recruit, had scored in double-digits three times in the first six games.

However, the top bench scorer only played in three games during the first half.

The freshman was dressed and in uniform and didn’t appear injured.

After the game, Payne told reporters why Johnson was on the sideline.

“You ready for this? I probably shouldn’t tell you this,” the 57-year-old said, via Lousville’s WHAS.

“We didn’t have the tights he wanted, so he didn’t know if he wanted to play.

“Oh yeah, you heard it.

“We didn’t have the tights he wanted, that we’ve never had for him, and he decided, ‘I don’t feel like I can go.’”

Bellarmine veteran head coach Scotty Davenport then shared his reaction to the Payne “tights” situation.

“I coach my guys … I will say, I’ve coached a lot of years, at all levels and that’s a first,” he said.

Johnson would return to the court and end up with eight points and five assists in 19 minutes.

The Cardinals would go on to win 73-68 and are now 4-3 for the season.

They have a 12-1 series record over the Knights.

In seven games, Johnson has averaged 8.9 points and 3.7 assists per contest.