Pat Kelsey is trying to rebuild the Louisville basketball team. He knows it won't happen overnight. He has to get top recruits to buy into what he wants to build. It takes time to gain the recruits' trust and make sure they believe what he's selling them.
Recruiting for the 2025 class seems to be going well at first. Now Kelsey is trying to land a big fish in the 2026 class. Tyran Stokes is the top-ranked recruit in the country for this class. The five-star power forward from California is coveted by programs across the country.
Stokes will visit the weekend of October 3rd. The Cardinals have a good look at him as Stokes is originally from Louisville. For him, coming home and playing for his hometown team is a big draw. The Louisville Cardinals have a chance to impress him during a visit.
Louisville will face tough competition from all of the top programs in the country. Kansas, North Carolina, Texas, Auburn and more have offered Stokes scholarships. The Cardinals will have to beat all of those programs and more if they want to land him.
That visit in October could go a long way in building a relationship that could lead to him committing. I'm sure NIL will be discussed on that visit as well. Louisville has a top ten NIL program, which gives them hope that he's not too expensive for them.
Stokes has everything Louisville wants in a young player. He is athletic, strong and very talented. He can play above the basket but can also make jump shots. Stokes is the total package and would be someone this program could be built around.
Once Kelsey lands one of these top prospects, things will get a lot easier for this program. He'll land one, it's just a matter of time.
