ACC rival emerging as major threat to land Flory Bidunga over the Louisville Cardinals

Friday has been a roller coaster of emotions for Louisville basketball fans, as the Cardinals learned earlier today that they earned an On3 Sports prediction to land the 5-star transfer Flory Bidunga. Obviously, this doesn’t mean Louisville has earned his commitment yet, but it was a huge step in the right direction, showing Louisville is the clear frontrunner and the team to beat.

Pat Kelsey and Louisville one step closer to pulling off the Flory Bidunga magic

Well, while that prediction is still there as this article is posted, Louisville fans just learned that one of its conference rivals, the ACC powerhouse Duke Blue Devils, has earned an official visit from Bidunga, according to Jeff Goodman.

Duke emerges as major threat to Louisville for 5-star Flory Bidunga

The 5-star transfer is currently on an official visit at Louisville with another former 5-star recruit, Jackson Shelstad. The two transfers share the same agent, and the dream was that it would be a package deal and both wouldn’t leave Louisville without committing to the Cardinals.

However, that doesn't appear to be the case, as Bidunga is already lining up his next visit, which isn’t what Louisville fans wanted to hear. Goodman reports that Michigan and St. John’s are also still in the mix for Bidunga, which could mean other visits are scheduled shortly as well.

For right now, Kelsey and Louisville have to do whatever it takes to land Bidunga with him on campus and to leave a Cardinal and not still available. Louisville has been in dire need of a big man who can dominate like Bidunga, and now, just moments after Louisville fans learned they are the frontrunners, their ACC rival earns a visit as well.

Bidunga is exactly who the Cards fans have been begging for as he not only can back his defender down and dominate the glass, but he has a dominant paint presence on defense and protects the rim better than nearly everyone in college basketball.

He earned 91 blocks last season and 2.6 blocks per game, which put each stat in the top five for Division I basketball. The 5-star transfer earned 13 double-doubles last year and scored 20 points or more in five games, and ranks as a consensus 5-star transfer and the No. 1 overall transfer in the portal, and the top-ranked center.

The recruiting race for Bidunga is heating up between the ACC programs, and the good news is that he is at Louisville right now, and Kelsey knows he most likely will have to earn the commitment before he leaves. So, the ball is in Louisville’s court right now, and Kelsey will have to work some magic and try to avoid Bidunga even making it to the Duke visit, but for now, Louisville and Duke are battling it out for the 5-star transfer, and Michigan and St. John’s are still in the hunt.

Related: Players in the Transfer portal that the Louisville Cardinals have reached out to

For all the latest news and updates on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.