Louisville basketball doesn’t have any commitments in the 2026 recruiting class yet, but the Cardinals are trending in the right direction with one of the top recruits. Recently, the Cardinals entered the race for 4-star recruit Boyuan Zhang after Pat Kelsey and company extended an offer to the 6-foot-7, 205-pound small forward.
Zhang has seen his rankings skyrocket recently as he is now a consensus 4-star and ranks as high as No. 25 overall, No. 8 among small forwards, and No. 7 in California in the 2026 recruiting class. The Cards will battle it out with Oregon as they also extended an offer over the weekend and have a visit lined up, while Illinois, Cal, and Minnesota have already earned visits from the 4-star.
Read more: Louisville basketball enters race for red-hot 2026 4-star small forward
Louisville football in early race for local 5-star DL
Jeff Brohm and Louisville football are eyeing an elite 5-star in the 2028 recruiting class, as the Cardinals were listed as one of 10 schools likely to earn a visit from local star Kellan Hall. Tom Loy of 247Sports reported that Hall is set to visit 10 schools this spring, with eight dates already confirmed, including Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Georgia, Ohio State, and Indiana.
However, Louisville was on the list but doesn’t have a date yet, so hopefully the Cardinals are lining up a visit from the local 5-star. Hall ranks as high as No. 8 in the 2028 recruiting class, and is the best defensive lineman and the best recruit out of Kentucky. He is a Louisville native who attended Christian Academy of Louisville, where last season he recorded 53 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks.
Read more: Jeff Brohm and Louisville football in early heated battle for local 5-star 2028 DL
One change Pat Kelsey should consider down the stretch
Louisville basketball recently suffered a 77-74 loss to North Carolina. The Cardinals are trying not only to make a push for a higher seed in the ACC Tournament and earn the double-bye, but also to earn a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament. With just three games remaining and the Cardinals fans hoping for a postseason push, many are begging Pat Kelsey to look at his starting lineup and consider moving Khani Rooths to start and Isaac McKneely to the bench.
McKneely just hasn’t had the season many were hoping for as he is shooting the ball at the lowest rate since his freshman season at 39.2 percent from beyond the arc, and is averaging just 10.6 points per game, also the lowest since his freshman season. Rooths brings size and physicality that Kelsey and the fans liked in those final eight minutes against UNC when the Cardinals came back after being down by double digits. With Louisville 0-6 against ranked teams this year and the Cardinals looking for answers, it feels like something must change, and the fans continue to think this is a change Kelsey should consider.
Read more: Louisville basketball's starting lineup debate is becoming unavoidable for Pat Kelsey