3. Dream - Tyran Stokes
The No. 1 dream recruit for the Cardinals is the consensus 5-star prospect and the No. 1 player in the nation, Tyran Stokes. At the beginning of his recruitment, it appeared that Louisville was the dominant favorite, but things have unfortunately trended in the wrong direction for Louisville, causing some fans to worry.
At this point in his recruitment, after visiting Kansas and Kentucky, the Cardinal's dominant lead has dwindled, and now it appears he is more of a dream target than a realistic one. Yes, the Cardinals still have the best chances to land him, according to On3 Sports, but Louisville's lead is no longer massive, making fans pray and hope he comes to Louisville, whereas a few months ago, the Cardinals faithful were confident.
The 5-star recruit is a Louisville native but currently attends Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. The 6-foot-7, 245-pound forward averaged 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals were the first program to earn an official visit back in October 2024. Louisville made their offer in November 2022.
Related: Louisville basketball's lead slips in high-stakes battle for nation's No. 1 recruit
Related: 2026 No. 1 prospect, Tyran Stokes, trending towards Louisville basketball