1. Realistic - Taylen Kinney
The No. 1 player every Louisville Cardinals fan must know is Taylen Kinney. This 5-star phenom is quickly emerging as Pat Kelsey's favorite recruit in the 2026 cycle.
The Kentucky native has been trending with Louisville basketball for multiple reasons and many weeks now. Kinney earned his offer from Louisville in May 2023 and then recently went on his first official visit to Louisville earlier this month. The 5-star recruit then signed an Adidas contract, making it appear that all signs are beginning to point him toward Louisville.
Kelsey reportedly is all-in on the nation's No. 4 point guard and top 14 players in the country. Kinney emerges as a prime option for the Cardinals if Mikel Brown Jr. declares for the NBA Draft after his freshman season.
Kinney played for Rod Wave Elite, averaging 20.1 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 55.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound guard also played for the Wildcat Select in the Adidas 3SSB, averaging 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game.
On3 Sports gives the Cardinals the second-best chance to earn Kinney's commitment, while Kentucky has just a slight edge. Louisville is in prime position to jump Kentucky any moment right now and earn this 5-star commitment.
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