Louisville basketball's 2026 class hasn't gone as well as hoped, but Pat Kelsey has shown he isn't afraid to use the Transfer Portal. Last season, the Cards landed three elite players from the portal and made this team a 2026 National Title contender.
The Cards have landed only one 2026 commitment, and have already landed a 2027 commitment after Ferlandes Wright committed late last week. Well, while the Cards' 2026 class isn't going their way, they now have a massive opportunity to get a huge boost after one of the top targets in the 2027 class has reclassified to the 2026 class.
Bruce Branch III was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2027 class, and now that he has reclassified to the 2026 class, Kelsey has to go all-in on this elite 5-star.
NEWS: Bruce Branch III, the No. 1 player in the class of 2027, has reclassified to the Class of 2026, he tells @247Sports.
— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) November 22, 2025
Story: https://t.co/MRN1W5TRRE pic.twitter.com/ShhxvKpuZh
Pat Kelsey and Louisville's No. 1 target in the 2026 class just became crystal clear
Branch is already a Louisville target as the Cardinals extended an offer to this 5-star back in May. He has received over 22 offers from elite programs, including Houston, Kansas, Tennessee, and others.
Branch was the No. 1 overall recruit across all recruiting platforms, and now that he has reclassified to the 2026 class, he remains a top-10 recruit, ranking No. 6 in the nation by 247Sports and No. 5 by On3 Sports. The 6-foot-7, 185-pound forward ranks as the No. 2 small forward in the class, as he only trails behind Louisville native, Tyran Stokes.
With the Cards striking out on Stokes, Jaxon Richardson, and many others, Branch has to become an immediate top target for Kelsey. With Kansas and Kentucky still in contention for Stokes, the Cardinals should now make Branch their No. 1 target and do what they can to earn this elite 5-star commitment.
Last spring, he played for the Compton Magic in the Adidas 3SSB circuit, averaging 15.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc. With a 7-foot-2 wingspan and his athleticism, he is an elite defender and one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation.
It won't be easy for Kelsey and the Cards to earn his commitment, but they have a massive opportunity in front of them now, and hopefully, Louisville can save its 2026 recruiting class with a 5-star commitment from a top ten recruit.