Louisville basketball learned that their starting center from last season, James Scott, entered the transfer portal last week, leaving the Cardinals in need of an elite forward. The shocking news prompted Pat Kelsey and his staff to recruit players from the transfer portal, as Louisville must now pursue a forward or center to replace Scott.
The Cardinals will bring back some valuable pieces like Kasean Pryor and J'Vonne Hadley, but Louisville needs at least one more big man to solidify this squad as a National Championship-caliber roster. The Cardinals are after 5-star transfer Jamir Watkins and 4-star transfer Baba Miller, but there hasn't been an update in quite some time on Louisville's top targets.
However, the biggest news to be announced yesterday came from On3 Sports' Joe Tipton, who reported that the elite 6-foot-10 4-star recruit Niko Bundalo decommitted from the Washington Huskies, immediately making him a prime target for Kelsey to pursue.
Related: 5 Win-now players Louisville basketball must land after James Scott enters portal
Elite 4-star PF is Louisville basketball's No. 1 target after stunning departure
Louisville found out a couple of weeks ago that they missed out on the No. 2 player in the class of 2025, Nate Ament. The consensus 5-star committed to the Tennessee Volunteers, causing Louisville to expand its search for its next star power forward.
The Cardinals were expected to recruit heavily in the transfer portal, but after Bundalo decommitted from Washington, fans are calling for Kelsey to go all-in on the 4-star prospect. Not only is he the perfect Scott replacement, but he is also an excellent option after striking out on Ament.
Bundalo is ranked as high as the No. 30 overall player in the class of 2025, the fifth-best power forward, and the sixth-best player out of California. The consensus 4-star recruit is the perfect match for this Cardinals team, as he can be a massive threat in the pick and pop. The 6-foot-10, 205-pound forward has the skills to hit fadeaway jumpers around the rim, space the floor, and knock down 3-pointers in rhythm.
The lefty-shooter would be the Cardinals' third lefty addition this offseason, making this Louisville offense an unstoppable beast. The Cardinals need a forward who can be reliable from beyond the arc and the midrange, and Bundalo is now one of the top prospects available in both the transfer portal and the class of 2025.
The Cardinals made their offer to the elite stretch forward back in May 2024. Louisville never received a visit and didn't make it to the top four schools, as North Carolina, Ohio State, Michigan State, and UConn were the final four schools. However, the Huskies were able to land his commitment after all four schools passed on the McDonald's All-American.
Related: 3 New transfer portal entries that the Louisville Cardinals have reached out to
Bundalo has now decommitted from Washington, and it was reported that he has opened up his recruitment to all schools, meaning Louisville must target this elite prospect. The California native received over 35 offers, making it a tough ask for Kelsey and staff to land the nation's No. 1 target moving forward this offseason. However, Louisville was able to secure three massive additions this offseason, and Kelsey proved that anything is possible.
Bundalo is Kelsey's missing piece in their national Championship quest for next season, as the Cardinals currently have the fourth-best odds to win their first National Title game since 2013.
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.