Louisville basketball fans get more crushing news from the 2026 recruiting class after elite top 35 recruit in the nation, Abdou Toure, cut the Cardinals from their list. The elite 4-star recruit is one of the top-ranked players in the 2026 class and one of the top small forwards in the cycle, ranking as high as No. 14 in the skilled position.
Toure earned over 18 offers, including one from Louisville. The Cardinals made the 4-star's top seven list, but Joe Tipton of On3 Sports reported the 4-star cut his list to just three, and the Cardinals were not one of the teams.
Louisville, Maryland, Oregon, and Florida State were all cut from his list as Providence, UConn, and Arkansas move forward. Tipton also reported that Toure will commit this Friday, October 3.
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Louisville strikes out on key 4-star SF
The Cardinals appeared to be slightly behind in this race at all times, but they kept pushing and remained consistent. The Cardinals visited the 4-star recruit during his junior season, and he stated that he has a "great relationship" with them, expressing a desire to take an official visit to Louisville. However, that never happened, and the Cardinals are now eliminated from the race days before his commitment.
However, Providence earned three total visits, two unofficial and one official visit, and UConn and Arkansas each earned visits recently, making it clear why they are his top three.
NEWS: 2026 Top-35 overall recruit Abdou Toure is down to three schools, he tells @Rivals:
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) September 26, 2025
Providence, UConn, and Arkansas.
The 6-5 wing will announce his college commitment on Friday, Oct. 3rd. https://t.co/o03cajR9mE pic.twitter.com/63QByt4Trx
Toure is ranked as high as No. 31 in the nation and the No. 1 recruit out of Connecticut. The 6-foot-6, 200 wing averaged 25.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game last season for Notre Dame High School and led them to another state championship.
With Toure committing this Friday and Taylen Kinney committing the previous Sunday, it is clear that the top recruits are beginning to announce their decisions as November approaches. Louisville fans must keep an eye on their top remaining targets like Tyran Stokes and Colben Landrew as the dominoes are beginning to fall now.
Related: Louisville basketball's 2026 recruiting class wish list
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.