1. Jamir Watkins
Louisville basketball's No. 1 target is Jamir Watkins, a 5-star transfer from Florida State. Watkins is the fourth-best player available and the seventh-best player to enter the transfer portal.
The Florida State transfer was invited to the NBA Draft Combine and will test to see if he can raise his draft stock. However, it would be smart to play one more season of collegiate basketball, and he would be a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The way to improve his draft stock moving forward would be to play for a fast-paced coach, and Pat Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals are the perfect fit. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season for the Seminoles and was able to shoot at an impressive split of 42 percent from the field and 32 percent from the 3-point line.
It was reported the Cardinals are one of three schools that "could be in the mix" for Watkins, with Illinois and Kentucky as the other two schools. Watkins scored 20 points or more in 12 games last season, 25 points or more in five games, and his season-high was a 30-point performance against Rice.
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He earned one double-double last season, with his season-high of 11 rebounds, five games with 20 points or more, and eight rebounds or more in the same game. His impressive season earned him a spot on the All-ACC Second Team.
The 5-star transfer is the second-best small forward to enter the transfer portal. There has been no update since Jeff Goodman's, but Watkins has since emerged as Louisville's No. 1 dream target.