Louisville basketball learned more crushing news as one of the top recruits in the nation cut his list down from 15 to seven, and Pat Kelsey's Cardinals reportedly are no longer in the running. 5-star small forward Anthony Thompson updated his recruiting list on Thursday, July 24, and unfortunately, Louisville's road ends here.
Thompson is a massive target in the 2026 cycle as he ranks as high as No. 8 in the nation and the second-best small forward in the 2026 class. The Cardinals made their offer to the consensus 5-star in July 2024, but Kelsey being one of the first programs to extend an offer didn't matter.
Louisville made Thompson's top 15 after he earned over 32 offers, but rounding out the 5-star's final seven includes Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
NEWS: 5⭐️ Anthony Thompson is down to seven schools, agent Nate Conley of Court XIV tells @Rivals.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 24, 2025
The 6-8 small forward is a top-10 recruit in the 2026 class. https://t.co/LtTox2V5W2 pic.twitter.com/2extOPG4Pc
Related: Louisville basketball making a push for elite 5-star wing in 2026 recruiting battle
Louisville basketball swings and misses on 5-star Anthony Thompson
Louisville has struck out on multiple small forwards this week, and it is hard to be surprised. While it appears the Cardinals are on a cold streak, in reality, this was expected.
The Cardinals are all-in on multiple guards, as that is what best fits Kelsey's playing style. However, the main reason Louisville just struck out on Thompson, Latrell Allmond, and Chris Washington is because of the Cardinals' loyalty to 5-star small forward and No. 1 overall prospect in the nation, Tyran Stokes.
Louisville is putting all its marbles in one basket and is banking on the Louisville native to come home and play for the city he grew up in. Kelsey has made it clear that Stokes is his guy, causing other 4-star and 5-star small forwards to lose interest in the Cardinals and remove them from their lists.
No top recruit in the nation wants to come off the bench in college, as they all are trying to become one-and-done superstars and declare for the 2026 NBA Draft. So, with Louisville making it clear that their dream and goal is to have Stokes as their starting small forward next year, Kelsey and his staff are striking out on players like Thompson.
Related: 3 realistic commitments that would make Louisville’s 2026 class perfect
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.