4. Realistic - Deron Rippey Jr.
It is clear that Kelsey is a guard-heavy coach, and in the 2026 class, he is targeting top-tier guards. A name that Louisville basketball fans have heard a lot this off-season is the New Jersey native 5-star phenom Deron Rippey Jr.
The elite point guard has been trending a lot with Louisville as assistant coach Jermaine Ukaegbu was in attendance at Rippey's practice earlier this offseason, and now On3 Sports has updated their prediction, and the Cardinals are the new favorite.
Louisville has a 30.4 percent chance of earning his commitment, while Alabama has the best odds at 26.6 percent. The 5-star guard is ranked as high as the 18th-best player in the nation and the fourth-best point guard in the class. He is the consensus No. 1 player out of New Jersey.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard was the New Jersey Player of the Year after his Junior season, earning him a spot at the NBPA Top 100 Camp. Rippey popped off at camp, averaging 21.7 points, 4.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the court and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Related: Louisville basketball receives massive update on 5-star PG after crucial visit
Related: Louisville basketball making a strong push for 2026 5-star PG