Louisville basketball loses 5-star dream transfer target to NBA draft

Louisville basketball has had one of the best offseason in the nation, as the Cardinals have landed commitments from three consensus top-25 players from the transfer portal. The Cardinals' most significant addition was 5-star Adrian Wooley, and after he committed, Louisville landed two 4-stars in Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely.

The Cardinals' offseason surge isn't over yet, as they still have a few roster spots to fill. The Cardinals needed a forward and a center, and one of the best players in the nation was available until now. The Cardinals already struck out on 4-star Baba Miller after he transferred to the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Now, Louisville basketball struck out on their No. 1 dream target, as he was a 5-star transfer and a consensus top 10 overall player in the portal. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Jamir Watkins decided to stay in the NBA Draft and will pursue his professional basketball career.

Louisville basketball loses 5-star dream transfer target to NBA draft

Watkins emerged as the Cardinals' top target after it was reported early in the offseason that Louisville was one of three teams in the mix. Illinois and Kentucky were the other two teams reportedly on the radar to land Watkins, but North Carolina was recently added to the mix.

The 6-foot-7 forward is ranked as high as the seventh-best player to enter the portal and the second-best small forward. Kelsey's playstyle would have been a perfect fit for Watkins, but after his impressive NBA Combine performance, he ended up staying in the NBA Draft and has gained significant ground in his draft stock.

While it was a long shot, and nothing really emerged after the first report back in mid-April, the Cardinals fans kept their eyes on Watkins as he would have made this already stacked roster the 2026 National Title favorites.

Watkins averaged 18.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season, securing a spot on the All-ACC Second Team. He can shoot at high splits and knockdown jumpers from anywhere on the court. Louisville recently earned a commitment from forward Mouhamed Camara. The 6-foot-7 forward comes over from NBA Academy Africa and will look to be a solid piece off the bench.

Jamir Watkins tells me that he's staying in the 2025 NBA Draft.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 28, 2025

It was a dream for all Cardinals fans, and honestly, for Kentucky, Illinois, and UNC fans, as no report really made it clear who the favorite was or if anyone had even contacted Watkins. The Cardinals will now keep a close eye on Khalifa's appeal and hope that it can be overturned, allowing Louisville to retain the crucial 6-foot-11 center on their team.

For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.