1. Louisville can't whiff on Tyran Stokes
With Kansas stealing Kinney from Louisville, the Cardinals cannot whiff on the nation's No. 1 prospect and 5-star small forward Tyran Stokes. The Cardinals have been all-in on Stokes for a long time, as the small forward was the first 2026 recruit to visit Louisville.
As a Louisville native, Stokes has to do all that he can to keep the 5-star in his home city and play in front of the town he grew up in. The worst-case scenario is Kentucky stealing Stokes, and Kansas stealing Kinney. Or Kansas stealing both, but the Cardinals need to land the rare 5-star prospect from Louisville.
The Cardinals now have a lot riding on Stokes and his decision after striking out on Kinney. The Louisville native has an opportunity to elevate this program to the next level, and given his local ties, his decision will have a significant impact on the Cardinals' future.
Related: Louisville must land this 5-star recruit or Cardinals will face major consequences
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.