Louisville basketball is officially in the offseason, which means the Cardinals are all-in on the Transfer Portal. The Cardinals will have a lot of work to do this offseason, but the good news is that Pat Kelsey has proven he can be a strong recruiter in the Transfer Portal.
Louisville Basketball: The Cardinals’ biggest 2026 Transfer Portal needs
Kelsey has been very effective in his first two Transfer Portal runs with Louisville: in his first year, he landed players like Chucky Hepburn, Terrence Edwards Jr., and J’Vonne Hadley, and last year he landed three top-25 players in the portal in Adrian Wooley, Ryan Conwell, and Isaac McKneely.
So, with the Cardinals having to replace some key players from last year, Kelsey will have to hit the portal hard for a third straight season. The Cardinals will attack many positions, but there is no question that Louisville fans want to go get a dominant big man who can back someone down and be dominant offensively, but also protect the rim on the other end.
So, with all this in mind, we asked ChatGPT to weigh in on who Kelsey should target in the Transfer Portal for Louisville, and while the Cardinals fans will absolutely love who it said is the "best choice,” it gave five options in total.
The ideal Louisville Transfer Portal target
The Cardinals need someone who can score at a high rate, but also isn’t a complete liability on defense. They need someone with a big frame, who has proven themselves and isn’t a risk, who can play some physical basketball, and isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
Chat GPT broke Louisville’s targets down into three categories: best choice, realistic option, and underrated gem. But before we break down those three players, here is the list of ChatGPT’s top five targets, in alphabetical order, for what Louisville needs most in its frontcourt.
The Candidates
DeSean Goode: Power forward, Robert Morris
Kwame Evans Jr.: Power forward, Oregon
Chol Machot: Center, Charleston
Paulius Murauskas: Power forward, Saint Mary's
Drew Scharnowski: Power forward, Belmont
The Best Choice
ChatGPT believes that Paulius Murauskas is not only the best choice but Louisville’s dream choice. ChatGPT says Murauskas is 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, which is exactly what Louisville is looking for, as he is an elite rebounder who averaged 7.7 rebounds per game last year and is also an elite interior scorer.
Last year, he averaged 18.4 points per game, and the physical style he plays is exactly what Louisville lacks, according to ChatGPT. He has already proven he can be reliable, as he has made the NCAA Tournament every year, and is the perfect fit for what the Cardinals are looking for. Murauskas ranks as the No. 1 power forward and the No. 1 overall transfer in the Transfer Portal.
Related: Dominant 6-foot-8 4-star PF transfer emerging as dream target for Louisville
The Realistic Choice
ChatGPT believes the Cardinals have a good chance of landing former 5-star recruit Kwame Evans Jr. out of high school. ChatGPT likes that Evans gives the Cardinals a defensive identity and toughness in the paint, and is coming along on the offensive side.
Evans averaged 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game last season for the Oregon Ducks, and he now ranks as high as the No. 3 power forward in the portal and the No. 8 overall transfer in the portal. He is a former McDonald’s All-American and averaged 13.3 points while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor, and scored in double figures 23 times last season.
Related: Former 5-star PF emerges as perfect Transfer Portal target for Louisville basketball
The Underrated Choice
Chol Machot is expected to be one of the top centers in the Transfer Portal, but ChatGPT lists him as underrated because he is still developing offensively, while highlighting his toughness in the paint. The Charleston transfer fits what Louisville is looking for, as he is a defensive monster who won the CAA Defensive Player of the Year.
The 7-foot, 190-pound center averaged 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game last season and shot nearly 60 percent at 59.2 percent from the floor. He finished the season with 79 total blocks, which ranked No. 10 in Division I. He adds size, rim protection, and rebounding for the Cardinals, but his offense is where he would need to improve.
Related: 3 elite players Louisville basketball must target right now in the Transfer Portal
For all the latest news and updates on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.