Louisville basketball is going all in. The Cardinals and Pat Kelsey are starving for a National Championship, and Kelsey is trying to build one of the best teams in college basketball.
Louisville has been extremely busy this offseason, replacing nine players, including all five starters and their top four scorers. While it made for a hectic offseason for Kelsey, it was a massive success for Louisville, as Kelsey landed 10 players this offseason, including seven from the Transfer Portal, the No. 1 Transfer Portal, and three recruits from the 2027 recruiting class.
Now, Louisville is trending as a top-10 team in the nation after landing Seth Trimble following the “five-for-five” rule, but reports suggest Louisville might not be done yet. The Cardinals have reached out to one of the top players in the portal, Jaxon Kohler, following the " five-for-five " rule. After the Michigan State transfer recently entered the portal, Jon Rothstein reported yesterday that Louisville is still in the mix and in a recruiting battle with three other teams.
Louisville basketball in mix for Jaxon Kohler
Rothstein is one of college basketball’s biggest analysts and reporters, and he's now reporting that the Michigan State transfer recently told him he is “considering” Louisville and others. The Cardinals are in a recruiting battle for the elite power forward with BYU, Kansas, and Kentucky, according to Rothstein.
“Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler tells me that he’s considering the following schools and will have other conversations later today,” stated Rothstein. “Kohler is pursuing a fifth year and is currently eligible following the preliminary injunction in California.”
Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler tells me that he’s considering the following schools and will have other conversations later today.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 18, 2026
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisville
BYU
Kohler is pursuing a fifth year and is currently eligible following the preliminary injunction in California.
On3 Sports Joe Tipton reported that BYU was the favorite earlier this month, but Kelsey has pulled off some magic tricks before. Louisville wanted a forward who could space the floor, and Kohler would be just that. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward is an elite rebounder who is physical in the paint but also showcased his ability last year to shoot from beyond the arc and make it from downtown consistently.
The Michigan State transfer averaged 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc. Kohler was impressive from downtown, splashing 58 3s on the season.
After the Cardinals landed Trimble earlier this month, many assumed the Cardinals were done, but Rothstein made it clear the Michigan State transfer is still considering Louisville. The Cardinals already have the seventh-highest odds to win the national title, and if they land Kohler, they could become a legitimate top-five team in the nation.
It is likely a long shot for Louisville, but it is something Cardinals fans should certainly keep an eye on. It is an exciting time to be a Louisville basketball fan, as Kelsey has this team trending as one of the top programs in college basketball.
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