Louisville basketball recently learned they are no longer in the running for the 2026 No. 1 center Arafan Diane. The 7-foot center cut his list down from 12 schools to five, and the Cardinals unfortunately did not make the updated list, despite being the favorites early in his recruiting process.
Diane is a 4-star center and is ranked unanimously as the best center in the cycle. While the update is devastating and disappointing, Louisville fans quickly turn the page and begin to recruit their next target in the center position, and it wasn't hard to locate who they are eyeing.
A crucial 4-star center and one of the top-ranked prospects in the 2026 cycle, Joshua Irving emerges as Pat Kelsey's clear No. 1 target in the center position after Diane's update. Irving is one of the top recruited centers in the 2026 class, and it is clear he has the Cardinals high on his list after he scheduled a crucial visit with Louisville later in September.
Related: Louisville receives gut-wrenching blow from No. 1 center in 2026 recruiting class
Louisville basketball's eyes massive visit with 4-star center
The Cardinals are going to be incredibly thin at the center position after the 2025-26 season, making it crucial that Kelsey can land an elite center prospect from the 2026 class. After learning they are no longer in the running for Diane, Louisville will quickly turn to Irving and that massive visit that is creeping up.
Iriving is a 4-star center that ranks as high as No. 50 in the 2026 cycle and the fourth-best center in the recruiting class. The California native ranks as the sixth-best prospect from the state and is heavily recruited by big-time schools.
Louisville must stand out during its visit tour this fall and do everything it can to try to earn Irving's commitment. The 6-foot-10, 200-pound center is a perfect target for Kelsey, as he is incredibly athletic, while improving his jumpshot. The Cardinals are set to have a massive fall as they will host multiple top 50 recruits in the 2026 class.
However, after Diane gave his crushing recruiting update, Irving quickly became one of Louisville's top targets in the 2026 class as he is emerging as Kelsey's new No. 1 center in the 2026 cycle.
Related: Louisville takes big step forward after key recruiting update from 4-star center
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.