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Louisville basketball: Class of 2021 recruiting big board 1.0

By Presley Meyer

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 05: David Johnson #13, Samuell Williamson #10, Quinn Slazinski #11 and Aidan Igiehon #22 of the Louisville Cardinals react from the bench during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at KFC YUM! Center on February 5, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 86-76. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 05: David Johnson #13, Samuell Williamson #10, Quinn Slazinski #11 and Aidan Igiehon #22 of the Louisville Cardinals react from the bench during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at KFC YUM! Center on February 5, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 86-76. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – FEBRUARY 19: Jesse Edwards #14 of the Syracuse Orange tries to get to the basket while defended by Quinn Slazinski #11 of the Louisville Cardinals during a game at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Syracuse 90-66. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – FEBRUARY 19: Jesse Edwards #14 of the Syracuse Orange tries to get to the basket while defended by Quinn Slazinski #11 of the Louisville Cardinals during a game at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Syracuse 90-66. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Power forward

Already Committed: The Cardinals lone commit in the 2021 class comes from 6’7″ 220-pound Chicago native Bryce Hopkins.  

Hopkins is the prototypical Chris Mack recruit, and he is primed to make an instant impact in 2021. He is long, athletic, and extremely strong and physical. Though listed as a power forward, one could certainly envision him playing a role as a three at the next level- Particularly if his ball-handling and outside shooting continue to improve during his senior season.

Trey Kaufman

Sellersburg, Indiana

The commitment of Hopkins could be a deterrent to local 6’8″ 210-pound prospect Trey Kaufman.

A rising star at Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg, Kaufman is one of the better-kept secrets on the recruiting trail. Still, coaches have been taking notice of Kaufman’s game, and he has been courted heavily by Indiana, Louisville, and Purdue among others.

At this point, Kaufman is probably an Indiana lean, and that’s fair. But don’t discount the Cardinals. Though he’s technically an Indiana prospect, Louisville is his hometown team, and the Cardinals want him badly.

“First of all, it is one of the best basketball programs in the country,” Kaufman told Cardinal Authority after a game in February. “It’s close to home. I could go on and on about the program.”

Kaufman also went on to say that he has a “really good” relationship with coach Mack and that he was impressed when he visited campus earlier in the year.

It will be a tough battle with the Hoosiers, but don’t discount Kaufman as another forward who could come in and make a big impact for the Cards.

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